The Democratic Alliance (DA) has urged President Cyril Ramaphosa to initiate a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) investigation into corruption claims involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
According to reports by News24, Mashatile is alleged to have had corrupt dealings with businesspeople who benefited from state tenders. In response, the DA released a statement on Monday, demanding formal investigations into these allegations.
DA leader John Steenhuisen accused Mashatile of engaging in serious acts of abuse of power and state capture. Steenhuisen also criticized President Ramaphosa for his passive approach, stating that instead of taking a leadership role, the president chose to ignore the scandals within his ANC government, hoping they would fade away.
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Steenhuisen further highlighted the ANC’s inadequate response to the allegations, pointing out that the party’s Integrity Committee had only made superficial comments about Mashatile’s appearance before them.
During a recent ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Fikile Mbalula, the party’s secretary-general, stated that Mashatile had not been formally charged by any law enforcement agency. Mbalula emphasized that while the ANC takes these allegations seriously, it is essential not to succumb to a trial by the media.
Given the seriousness of the allegations and the need for transparency and accountability, the DA’s call for a thorough investigation through the SIU is a necessary step. It is crucial to ensure that those in positions of power are held accountable for their actions and that corruption is rooted out from all levels of government.
President Ramaphosa now faces the decision of whether to heed the DA’s request and launch an SIU probe into the corruption allegations against Deputy President Mashatile. The outcome of this decision will have significant implications for the fight against corruption in South Africa.
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