The Parliamentary Joint Ethics Committee has found Deputy President Paul Mashatile guilty of failing to disclose a diamond gifted to his wife by the controversial businessman Louis Liebenberg. The outcome has sparked a wave of criticism and calls for increased transparency regarding the Deputy President’s financial dealings.
The ethics report determined that Mashatile breached the Code of Ethical Conduct and Members’ Interests, which mandates that all gifts received by members of Parliament or their immediate families must be disclosed. As a consequence, the committee has recommended that Mashatile receive a reprimand and a R10,000 fine, marking this as his first offence.
Our investigations show that this finding follows a complaint I submitted to the committee on March 5, 2025, and it raises more questions than answers. Mashatile confirmed that the diamond has since been handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), but the implications of this situation are still unfolding.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has indicated that it will pursue further inquiry by submitting Parliamentary questions targeting not just this diamond transaction, but the broader context of Mashatile’s financial transparency. Among their inquiries will be:
- What other gifts has the Deputy President and/or his wife received from Mr Liebenberg?
- What reciprocal gifts did Mashatile provide to Mr Liebenberg?
- What is the value of the diamond? The Deputy President’s office has stated that they are currently assessing this.
- The legality of the diamond, including its nature, source, and certification.
- The nature of the relationship between the Deputy President, his wife, and Liebenberg, particularly regarding a visit to their home in November 2023.
Concerns are growing over the Deputy President’s apparent inability to maintain ethical standards in disclosing his assets. Just this week, it was revealed that he also failed to declare a R28.9 million Constantia home in Cape Town, a situation he denied for two years. These repeated oversights underscore pressing questions about what other assets Mashatile might have that remain undisclosed.
“South Africans deserve transparency from their Deputy President, who is remunerated with public money,” said a spokesperson from the DA, emphasising the importance of ethical governance in public office.
Liebenberg, the businessman involved, is currently incarcerated and awaiting trial in connection to an alleged multi-million rand Ponzi scheme revolving around diamonds, further complicating the narrative surrounding Mashatile’s actions.