South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, is facing intense scrutiny after it was revealed that his wife received a diamond gift from Louis Liebenberg, a gem dealer currently serving jail time on charges of theft and money laundering.
The scandal has sparked renewed public outrage and calls for accountability within the ruling African National Congress (ANC), intensifying pressure on President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has been battling to clean up the party’s image in the wake of multiple corruption scandals.
Mashatile, speaking on Friday, August 1, defended his position by claiming he had no prior knowledge of the diamond’s origin. “I asked my office to check the present. We later found out the donor was someone we weren’t comfortable with,” he stated. “The gift wasn’t for me; it was for my wife. But I don’t want her accepting anything from someone whose integrity is in question.”
According to reports, the diamond was surrendered to authorities once its source was confirmed. However, Parliament’s Ethics Committee has already taken action, slapping the Deputy President with a 10,000 rand fine (approximately $550) for failing to declare the controversial gift, as required by law. The actual value of the diamond remains undisclosed.
In a statement to reporters, President Ramaphosa emphasized the importance of transparency. “We will need to wait for him to provide answers to all these questions,” he said, signaling that further investigations may be forthcoming.
This isn’t the only allegation Mashatile is facing. He is also under criticism for allegedly failing to declare ownership of a luxury home in Cape Town, reportedly worth over a million dollars. In response, he denied owning the property, saying, “That house is owned by my son-in-law. So, what’s the problem?”
The unfolding controversy threatens to deepen public distrust in government officials and may deal yet another blow to the ANC’s credibility ahead of upcoming political contests.
