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Gauteng ANC backs Mashatile’s Nkandla comments

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Paul Mashatile. Picture: Loanna Hoffmann
Paul Mashatile. Picture: Loanna Hoffmann

The chairperson of the ANC in Gauteng, Paul Mashatile, has come under fire for his public declaration that he disagrees with police minister Nathi Nhleko’s Nkandla report.

The report absolved President Jacob Zuma from paying back any of the money for the upgrades to his homestead in KwaZulu-Natal and suggested more money was needed for additional security upgrades.

But Mashatile’s province stands squarely behind him with members of the provincial executive committee (PEC) and the provincial youth league supporting his statement.

A former minister of arts and culture, Mashatile was not redeployed by Zuma in what is widely seen as his and Gauteng’s anti-Zuma position at Mangaung in 2012.

ANC North West secretary Dakota Legoete said he was “not sure why Mashatile would want to speak on some of these things” and that only “secretary- general Gwede Mantashe has the authority to speak on behalf of the governing party...

“If [Mashatile] is not happy with some parts of the report he knows exactly where he should go to raise such issues.”

At the Daily Maverick’s The Gathering on Thursday, Mashatile asked to respond to a statement made that Nhleko had said more money was needed for Nkandla.

“I just want to say, that’s not an ANC position … it’s true that report never came to the ANC because in our right minds we cannot, when the public is complaining, still say we’re going to spend more,” he said.

Mashatile said what Nhleko had said was “his own view” and not an ANC position.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Gauteng PEC member said they were fully behind their chairperson.

“So [Mashatile] is not bound by any decision of the ANC not to speak on the matter. He makes it clear he does not agree with more payments for Nkandla.

“The reason there is so much confusion and excitement is because people were wishing for [Mashatile] to say something he did not say. It is clear people were hoping he would say the president should pay back the money. But he did not say that.”

Also rallying behind Mashatile is the ANC Youth League in Gauteng. Provincial chairperson Matome Chiloane said:

“We support the report and we’re saying [Zuma] should not pay back the money, but [Mashatile] is right to say there should be no more spending on Nkandla.”

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