Cape Town – Deputy President Paul Mashatile has been found guilty by Parliament’s ethics committee for failing to declare a diamond gift received by his wife from controversial businessman Louis Liebenberg.
The committee fined Mashatile and recommended he be officially reprimanded in the National Assembly for breaching the parliamentary code of conduct, which requires MPs to declare gifts received by immediate family.
Mashatile’s office claimed the diamond was under verification and intended to be returned after Liebenberg’s arrest for fraud and money laundering.
However, Parliament maintained the gift should have been declared immediately, regardless of its authenticity or future return.
In a statement to Parliament, the committee concluded that Mashatile had violated item 13(3)(f) in conjunction with item 16(1)(a)(ii) of the code.
[BREAKING] Parliament’s Ethics Committee recommends a R10 000 fine for Deputy President Paul Mashatile for failure to disclose a diamond that businessman Louis Liebenberg gave to his wife.#Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/caQTZ00JD6
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 31, 2025
“As a result, the committee will recommend to the National Assembly to impose a reprimand in the House and a fine of R10,000 for a first offence of a breach of the code.
“The committee remained steadfast in its quest to ensure accountability of all Members of Parliament as demanded by the code.
“The disclosure process not only facilitates public trust in Parliament but also enhances its credibility,” the statement read.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
