Deputy President Paul Mashatile has denied owning a R28.9 million mansion in Cape Towns exclusive Constantia suburb, saying his son-in-law owns it and he only lives there.
Mashatile raised eyebrows when he declared the home in Parliaments register of members interests for June 2025.
He listed it under the section Ownership in land and properties alongside a R37 million residence in Midrands Waterfall estate and a third residence in Kelvin, Johannesburg.
In his declaration, the Deputy President described the Waterfall and Constantia properties as residential family home and the Kelvin property as simply residential.
Mashatile responds to Constantia mansion rowSpeaking to SABC News on Thursday 31 July, Mashatile suggested that there had been a misunderstanding about his declaration.
His son-in-law, Nceba Nonkwelo, acquired the Constantia and Waterfall properties through his company Bilcosat between March and May 2023, according to News24 reports . They had a combined value of R65.9 million at the time.
In January 2024, Nonkwelo told News24 that his company had secured a loan for the Constantia property.
The suggestion that the property was acquired as a cash transaction is incorrect and is clearly purposed at scandalising a legitimate business transaction, which was investing in real estate in the Western Cape property market during an opportune time, he added.
In February 2024, the Democratic Alliance filed a complaint against Mashatile with the Joint Committee on Ethics and Members' Interests for allegedly breaching the members' Code of Conduct.
This was in relation to his alleged failure to declare the use of the Waterfall property. The Deputy President has confirmed submitting responses to the committee, whose probes outcome is still unclear.