Deputy President Paul Mashatile had denied speculation that he may have interfered in the award of the multibillion-rand national lottery licence tender to Sizekhaya Holdings.
Trade, Industry and Competition Minister Parks Tau awarded Sizekhaya the tender in May.
On Monday 23 June, AmaBhungane reported that one of Sizekhayas shareholders is 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 allegedly close to him and was part of his recent visit to France.
Mashatile decries lottery licence speculationIn an interview with SowetanLive , Mashatile denied claims of involvement in the tender process.
"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.
"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."
On Tuesday, Tau and the National Lotteries Commission NLC fielded questions about the licence when they appeared before Parliaments portfolio committee on trade, industry and competition.
Tau said it would be irresponsible to ignore concerns raised by investigative journalists. He pledged that his Department and NLC would seek legal advice on whether or not there was conflict of interest or political affiliation involving Mashatile or his family.
"To the extent that these matters have been raised, we will follow up on them and make a determination about the veracity of the allegations and their impact on the adjudication process, he added.