DA says if it were in govt, its members would undergo lifestyle audits before taking office
The party on Monday laid criminal complaints against Deputy President Paul Mashatile in connection with alleged dodgy housing deals and kickbacks dating back to his time as a Gauteng MEC.
DA leader John Steenhuisen (left) and party MP, Solly Malatsi (right), at the Cape Town Central Police Station on 12 February 2024 after laying corruption complaints against Deputy President Paul Mashatile. Picture: @Our_DA/X
CAPE TOWN - The Democratic Alliance (DA) said that if it were in government, it would ensure lifestyle audits were conducted on its members before they take up public office.
The party on Monday laid criminal complaints against Deputy President Paul Mashatile at the Cape Town Central Police Station in connection with alleged dodgy housing deals and kickbacks dating back to his time as a Gauteng MEC.
DA leader John Steenhuisen said his hand had been forced since President Cyril Ramaphosa appeared unwilling to force Mashatile to step down following the expose by News24.
"We wish that it had been different. We wished the president would have had the courage to announce that he was undertaking an investigation, that he was submitting Mr Mashatile to a lifestyle audit, but once again he’s chosen not to act, and we now have to step into that."
Steenhuisen said that if there’s to be commitment to a clean government, it must be backed up by action.
He said that a DA government would ensure the return of the former multi-disciplinary anti-corruption busting unit, the Scorpions, which was disbanded in 2009.
"The problem with our approach today is that we’ve always gone after the small fish but there’s never any of the big heads that end up on spikes showing South Africans that it doesn’t matter who you are in society, how connected you are, that you will face the full might of the law."