Ziwaphi Relentless quest for the truth
Mpumalanga’s overgenerous ANC regional deputy chairman Siphiwe Nathaniel Mashile has refused to comment on a R2 million tender he received from the same provincial department where his wife is an official.
Mashile, of the Ehlanzeni regional ANC structure, made headlines last month when a video in which he was seen distributing R200 bank notes to patrons attending controversial businessman Kenny Kunene’s party at Taboo Night Club in Sandton, Gauteng, went viral.
African Eye News Service discovered where Mashile was making some of his money after his wife, Unathi Mashile, was tagged in Facebook pictures showing a truck bearing the words MBE parked at a provincial human settlement department event.
MBE stands for Maphama Business Enterprise, a company belonging to Mashile. It is not clear if his wife is a partner at the company.
Department spokesman Freddy Ngobe said there was no conflict of interest in Mashile obtaining a tender to deliver the outreach entertainment truck to the department.
“The owner of MBE has declared upfront in his bid that Unathi Mashile is his spouse. Unathi Nyathi/Mashile is the employee of the department. She is working in another section which is outside the departmental supply chain management unit and never participated on procurement processes,” said Ngobe.
Ngobe said the tender, worth R2,247,393.15 was awarded to MBE on February 14 this year.
Mashile has refused to comment, saying: “Brother, stay away from me, my God, please. I do not owe anyone, no, no,” said Mashile.
His wife referred questions back to the department.
“He is my husband, but what must I declare? I do not know, you must ask the department (about) the processes. I have never been told that I must declare anything,” she said.
