Ethics Committee Fines SA Deputy President Paul Mashatile 10k Over Undeclared Gift

By Bheki Dlamini 

Pretoria, South Africa — South Africa’s Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, is facing an official reprimand and a R10,000 fine after the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members’ Interests found he failed to declare a diamond gifted to his wife. 

The committee’s recommendation, announced on Thursday, is being forwarded to the National Assembly for adoption and signals a firm stance on parliamentary transparency and accountability.

The Gift and the Breach

The controversy centres on a diamond received by Deputy President Mashatile’s wife from businessman Louis Liebenberg. While Members of Parliament are required by Item 13(3)(f) of the Code of Ethical Conduct to declare any gifts received by their immediate family in the confidential section of the register of financial and registrable interests, the gift was not listed by the Deputy President.

A formal complaint was submitted to the committee on March 5, 2025, prompting an inquiry into Mashatile’s confidential disclosures. The committee reviewed the evidence and noted that the diamond had not been declared.

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In his response to the complaint, Mashatile explained that he was waiting for the diamond’s appraisal to determine its value before making a disclosure and stressed that the stone had subsequently been handed over to the National Prosecuting Authority.

Ethics Committee’s Findings and Recommendations

The committee, chaired by Lusizo Makhubela and Henni Britz, concluded that ethical behaviour required the immediate disclosure of the gift, even if its precise value was not yet known. According to the committee, disclosure could have taken place with the value submitted at a later stage, as set out in parliamentary rules.

The committee found Mashatile in breach of both item 13(3)(f) and item 16(1)(a)(ii) of the Code of Ethical Conduct. As a result, it resolved to recommend a formal reprimand in the House and a R10,000 fine for this first offence.

Upholding Public Trust through Transparency

The committee reaffirmed its commitment to holding all Members of Parliament accountable. “The disclosure process not only facilitates public trust in Parliament but also enhances its credibility,” the committee said in a statement.

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Full details of the findings and recommendations will be made available in the Announcements, Tablings and Committee Reports released by Parliament.

If adopted by the National Assembly, the Deputy President will be officially reprimanded in Parliament and required to pay the fine. The case highlights the ongoing scrutiny over political ethics and transparency in South Africa, particularly for those occupying high office positions.