Presidency challenges DA to lay charges amid Mashatile 'graft dossier'

On Friday, DA Leader John Steenhuisen submitted a dossier at the Union Buildings containing allegations of corruption against Deputy President Paul Mashatile.

Over the past few months, media reports accused Mashatile of being involved in corruption with his family.

"Ordinarily the very first port of call for anyone with evidence of criminal wrongdoing against anyone should be the police, to lay criminal charges," said Presidency spokesperson Vincent Mangwenya

"Anyone who uses laying criminal charges as a threat to be activated if they don’t get some or other demanded political concession is obviously acting with a political motive. Any evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the Deputy President should be tested and verified by competent authorities."

"Guidelines and procedures have been adopted and implemented to subject members of the executive branch and senior state officials to lifestyle audits, as an additional critical measure to prevent corruption and capture," he added

Steenhuisen accused President Ramaphosa of being spineless and reluctant to act on Mashatile amid the corruption claims.

Steenhuisen said if Ramaphosa fails to act against Mashatile, he will violate the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act, the Public Finance Management Act, and the Executive Members’ Ethics Act.

"Given that President Ramaphosa has, to this day, failed to act against Mashatile by firing him from his executive post and subjecting him to a thorough investigation by the Special Investigating Unit, it is clear that President Ramaphosa has absolutely no will to address this scandal within his government.

“With this dossier now in hand, President Ramaphosa can no longer claim ignorance that his ‘Number Two’ is heading a state capture scheme the likes of which was last seen under Jacob Zuma.”

The party has given Ramaphosa until Wednesday next week to take action.

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