Communications and Digital Technologies Deputy Minister Mondli Gungubele has seemingly criticised Deputy President Paul Mashatiles response to concerns about his familys links to the national lottery licence tender winner.
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau awarded the tender to Sizekhaya Holdings in May.
According to AmaBhungane , one of Sizekhayas shareholders is a company called Bellamont Gaming, whose co-owners and co-directors are Khutso Bogatsu and KwaZulu-Natal businessman Moses Tembe.
Bogatsu is twin sister to Mashatiles spouse Humile, while Tembe is reportedly close to him and was part of his visit to France in May.
This has sparked conflict of interest and alleged political interference concerns, which the Deputy President has denied.
"There are so many people who know me in this country - family, children, cousins and friends. Where must they do business, in Zimbabwe ? Out of this country?" he asked during an interview with SowetanLive this week.
"They can do business, as long as I'm not involved, not because they know me. Because once you say Mr Mashatile is capable of influencing, even if he is sitting in his house, it's unfair. You must be able to say he went there to interfere."
Mondli Gungubeles subtle dig at MashatileHowever, Gungubele believes that public figures have a higher moral obligation regarding potential conflict of interest concerns.
It is the moral obligation of the public figures to clarify to the society when their friends or relatives are doing business with the state, not the obligation of the public to explain where they should do it, he wrote on X on Wednesday 25 June, without mentioning Mashatile.
Gungubele was a minister in the 6th administration and serves as a National Executive Committee member of the African National Congress ANC, where Mashatile also serves as Deputy President.