Vice President Paul Machatel’s son-in-law, Nesba Nunquillo.
- Gauteng MEC has ordered human settlements and infrastructure company Lebogang Maile to conduct an investigation into Vice President Paul Mashatile’s smelting company.
- This followed a News24 report on Machatili living in a R37 million home bought by his son-in-law, Nesba Nunquilo, and his son, Thabiso.
- It was also revealed that a company owned by Nonkwelo had received loans from the Gauteng Partnership Fund of at least R30 million to build student accommodation that was never built.
Gauteng MEC Human Settlements and Infrastructure Lebogang Maile has ordered the board of directors of the Gauteng Partnership Fund (GPF) to conduct an urgent investigation into whether GPF made excessive loans spanning more than a decade to Nonkwelo Investments.
News24 reported Wednesday morning that Vice President Paul Machattel lives in a R37 million home registered under a 99-year lease to Legacy Properties. According to company records, the directors of Legacy are Mashatile’s son, Thabiso, and son-in-law, Nceba Nonkwelo.
Nonkwelo Investments has received at least four loans from GPF totaling at least R30 million between 2013 and 2017 – overlapping with Mashatile’s second stint as a human settlements MEC.
According to Nonkwelo, the loans were for a property development in Highlands, Johannesburg, for student accommodation that News24 has learned was to be named Hunter Heights. However, construction was not completed, with no visible constructions on the property.
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According to a statement from his spokesperson Castro Ngobisi, Miley referred to the News24 report with “concern”.
“As an official of public office, it is my duty to protect public funds from any form of wrongdoing or abuse. We cannot tolerate accusations like this. Nothing will be swept under the rug. No single entity will be a playground for the powerful, the well-connected, or anyone else for that matter.
Miley said:
My conscience dictates that I keep the oath of office and do the right thing. We have ordered the council to investigate.
According to the statement, the Gauteng government remains committed to fighting corruption in line with its electoral mandate and the statement’s successive commitments.
News24 previously reported that Machatel lived a life of luxury in expensive homes owned by businessmen who benefited from government contracts.
Read | Secret luxury life ties and state takeover of the president-in-waiting
One of the biggest beneficiaries of Mashatile is Edwin Soddy, a politically connected businessman who is currently on trial on charges of corruption and fraud linked to a R255m asbestos removal tender, along with former Free State chief minister, Ace Magashol, who was recently expelled from the NCP. African.
After this report, the DA filed a complaint with the District Attorney.
DA spokeswoman Solly Malatsi said Wednesday that the party will ask the public defender to extend the scope of her investigation to these latest allegations.