In South Africa's corridors of politics and business, a web of connections has come to light, revealing how family ties and close friendships can lead to massive financial gains from government contracts. This story centers on Deputy President Paul Mashatile and the way his sons, along with their associates, secured a share of nearly R49 million through a tender in Gauteng.
At the same time, Mashatile has made a surprising move by declaring ownership of a luxurious R28.9 million mansion in the upscale Constantia area of Cape Town, even though records show it belongs to a company linked to his son-in-law. These revelations peel back layers of hidden dealings, showing how public funds flowed into private hands while questions about transparency linger.
The tender in question involved maintaining fire alarms and sprinkler systems at public hospitals in Gauteng. It was awarded in 2022 by the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development, which acted on behalf of the Department of Health. Two companies stood out as winners: Ngwato and Manzi Group, often called NMG, and Modipadi Nokaneng. Together, they received payments totaling R36.4 million, with an additional R12.6 million still owed, bringing the full amount to R49 million. These contracts were set to run until November 2025, focusing on essential safety work to prevent fires in hospitals that serve thousands of people every day.
What makes this story so intriguing is the deep family links to these companies. Thabiso Mashatile, the deputy president's eldest son from his late wife Manzi, played a key role in NMG. The company even carries her name in part, as a nod to her memory after she passed away in 2020. Thabiso's half-brother, Tinyiko Mvelase, whose mother has a long history in politics from Alexandra township, also held important positions in the firm. They started as directors but later stepped down, taking on roles like project manager and head of operations instead. This shift seemed designed to reduce public attention, but their involvement continued behind the scenes.
Investigations have uncovered that NMG and Modipadi Nokaneng were not truly separate competitors. They shared staff, office spaces, and resources, making their operations blend together seamlessly. For instance, employees would switch between preparing documents for one company or the other, and technicians had to keep track of which firm they represented during hospital visits. The companies leased offices first on East Road in Sandton from June 2022 to February 2023, and then moved to the sixth floor of the modern Capital Hills building in Benmore. In both cases, the leases were under Modipadi Nokaneng, and a key figure handled the dealings with the property owners.
At the center of this network is Taletjo Nala Mahlakoana, a businessman with mysterious ties to the Mashatile sons. He co-founded what became NMG, originally registering it as Taletjo Mahlakoana Civils on 7 March 2016. Thabiso joined as a director on 15 April 2021, and just days later, on 29 April 2021, the name changed to Ngwato and Manzi Group. Mahlakoana also directed Modipadi Nokaneng until he resigned on 9 November 2021, right before the tender submission deadline. He was replaced by Lefentse Nokaneng, whose sister Thato later became a director at NMG. This pattern of swapping roles happened at least four times since 2019, creating a tangled setup that made it hard to track true control.
The tender process began when the Gauteng department advertised for service providers on 29 October 2021. Submissions closed on 23 November 2021. By 9 May 2022, Thabiso and Mahlakoana had resigned from NMG, but Thabiso stayed on as project director. That same day, Tinyiko and Thato took over as directors. On 27 June 2022, both NMG and Modipadi Nokaneng were selected for the panel, with contracts starting on 1 November 2022. Payments followed, with NMG getting R15.8 million paid and R2.9 million owed, while Modipadi Nokaneng received R20.5 million paid and R9.6 million still due. Some of these funds covered unexpected items, like renting a fax machine at a Pretoria forensic mortuary, renovations at undisclosed sites, and water system repairs at South Rand Hospital, even though the tender was strictly for fire systems.
Further changes came quickly. Lefentse left Modipadi Nokaneng on 13 March 2023, and Mahlakoana returned as sole director. Tinyiko resigned from NMG on 5 July 2023, followed by Thato on 9 October 2023. That day, Mzwandile Hleli, a school friend of Tinyiko from Sacred Heart College in JOHANNESBURG, stepped in as director. These frequent shifts in leadership added to the confusion, but former employees described how Thabiso and Tinyiko remained the go-to people for major decisions, even after resigning as directors.
The story took a darker turn in September 2024 when NMG laid off about 12 workers without paying their agreed settlements, totaling R219,000. These amounts ranged from R10,000 to R30,000 per person. The company promised payments in three installments starting at the end of September, but nothing arrived. Workers turned to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration in October 2024, submitting documents that highlighted the broken promises. A letter from Tinyiko, as head of operations, blamed financial troubles for the layoffs, though it offered no further explanation. Despite the commission's involvement, the payments remain unpaid, leaving former employees struggling without the funds they earned.
One worker shared how the companies operated as one, never truly divided. Staff handled tasks for both, and the shared offices reinforced this unity. Mahlakoana's role extended beyond, as he co-directs at least six other companies with Thabiso, all variations of the Ngwato and Manzi name. One, Ngwato and Manzi Capital, remains active. The Gauteng department claimed no knowledge of these links, insisting the companies were treated as independent.
As payments to NMG slowed, the department advertised a new tender on 20 October 2023 to add more providers to the panel. Two new companies joined on 21 February 2024, supposedly to handle growing workloads without overburdening the originals. The department denied any issues with performance from NMG or Modipadi Nokaneng. However, NMG's daily earnings dropped sharply from an average of R24,600 before the additions to R7,400 afterward, based on paid amounts. Modipadi Nokaneng saw a smaller decline, from R34,000 to R29,200 daily. After February 2024, NMG received just R975,425, while Modipadi Nokaneng got R5.4 million.
This financial strain coincided with broader problems in Gauteng's hospitals. In March 2025, reports emerged that none of the province's 37 public hospitals fully met occupational health and safety standards, with fire risks being the most serious issue. Sixteen hospitals scored below 75% compliance, lacking proper fire prevention equipment, signage, and escape lighting. Over the past five years, fires have caused hundreds of millions in damage at places like Charlotte Maxeke and Tembisa hospitals, underscoring the importance of the maintenance work these companies were hired for.
NMG was also on panels for supplying autoclave machines and general building materials, but the department confirmed no payments came from those. The fire tender remained the main source of funds. When pressed about the unpaid workers, representatives for Thabiso and Mahlakoana emphasized their resignations as directors, suggesting they could not comment on company affairs. They accused inquiries of being part of a smear effort and threatened legal action, but provided no details on the retrenchments or non-payments.
Shifting focus to the deputy president himself, the declaration of the Constantia mansion adds another layer to this unfolding narrative. In his annual parliamentary disclosure published recently, Mashatile listed the R28.9 million property as his own residential family home. This came after years of denials about any connection to it. The house, with features like 7.5 bathrooms, a separate cottage, a wine cellar, and a cinema room, was bought in May 2023 by a company owned by his son-in-law, Nceba Nonkwelo. Nonkwelo, married to Mashatile's daughter Palesa since at least 2006, is the sole director of the company, originally called Bilcosat and later renamed Duntaw Guest House. A bond for the property was registered under another of Nonkwelo's companies, Enziguard.
Previously, Mashatile's spokespeople insisted he only used the official deputy president's residence in Rondebosch when in Cape Town, with no plans to change that. In October 2024, a statement from his office reiterated that he owned no properties in Cape Town or elsewhere, except a house in the JOHANNESBURG suburb of Kelvin, bought with his late wife through a bank loan. Yet, the new declaration includes the Constantia home alongside the Kelvin property and a R37 million house in Waterfall, Midrand. The Waterfall estate is known for its exclusivity, and Mashatile has lived there with his current wife, Humile, declaring it previously due to beneficial use, even though he does not own it.
The purchases raise eyebrows because between March and May 2023, Nonkwelo's companies funded R65.9 million in properties available to Mashatile. The Waterfall house was bought by Legacy Properties, with a bond from Nonkwelo Investments covering the full price. Investigations by authorities, including the Hawks' Public Sector Serious Corruption Unit in the Western Cape, are looking into the funding sources for the Constantia purchase. This probe, confirmed in March 2024, stems from complaints by political parties based on reports about Mashatile's finances.
Those complaints also cover other matters, such as R370,000 in payments Mashatile received from a businessman facing corruption charges, whose Clifton home Mashatile used before becoming deputy president. Additionally, funds paid to Mashatile's former girlfriend by a director of a company that won large government housing contracts, which also donated heavily to the ANC during Mashatile's time as treasurer-general. Probes by the Public Protector, prompted by groups like ActionSA and Rise Mzansi, are ongoing, with results yet to be released.
Mashatile's declarations also list various gifts, including a toy Isuzu truck, a bottle of whisky from Japan, wine and teacups from China, and daggers from the Russian prime minister. These details paint a picture of a life intertwined with international diplomacy and personal benefits.
This network of tenders, family businesses, and luxury properties highlights how public resources can intersect with private interests in ways that demand closer scrutiny. The unpaid workers, the hospital fire risks, and the sudden property declarations all weave into a larger tale of accountability in high places. As these facts emerge, they invite reflection on the systems that allow such connections to flourish.
Follow Us on Twitter
