A company with strong ties to Thabiso Mashatile, son of Deputy President Paul Mashatile, has been removed from the Central Supplier Database (CSD), effectively preventing it from securing future government contracts. The move follows previous reports by News24 and Netwerk24 exposing the company, Modipadi Nokaneng, for allegedly benefiting from inflated Gauteng Department of Health (GDOH) contracts alongside another company, Ngwato and Manzi Group.
The removal of Modipadi Nokaneng from the CSD, a critical registry managed by the National Treasury for service providers eligible for government tenders, was confirmed by Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi in response to a parliamentary question from DA MP Michéle Clarke in December of last year. Motsoaledi stated that "as of 17 December 2025, Ngwato and Manzi Group [NMG] remains active on the Central Supplier Database, while Modipadi Nokaneng has been removed." Registration on the CSD is mandatory for any entity seeking to conduct business with the state.
Professor Alex van den Heever, chair of social security system administration and management studies at the Wits School of Governance, explained to News24 that the removal or deactivation of a company from the CSD prevents it from participating in public sector procurement. He noted that reasons for such action could include "blacklisting relating to fraud or nonperformance; company de-registration; nondisclosure of beneficial ownership; and/or misrepresentation or inaccurate information." He clarified that departments must request National Treasury to deactivate a company in cases of procurement irregularities, but National Treasury ultimately holds the power to remove a company entirely.
He added that "Individual departments can request removal – but only National Treasury removes. Although National Treasury is able to act without a departmental request, it appears that there is a tendency to wait for such a request." Van den Heever suggested that National Treasury could proactively investigate publicly reported instances of irregular procurement. He also said that removal would probably result from an investigation by National Treasury and is more serious than a company simply being deactivated.
The National Department of Health spokesperson, Foster Mohale, stated that the department has not conducted any business with Modipadi Nokaneng between April 2017 and the present day. National Treasury did not respond to requests for comment.
News24 has extensively documented the intricate network of relationships between Thabiso Mashatile and his business associates, many of whom have deep connections within government circles. In November 2025, Modipadi Nokaneng changed its name to 0711 Stuttgart. The company is directed by Taletjo Mahlakoana, a business partner of Thabiso Mashatile. Together with Mashatile’s stepbrother, Tinyiko Mvelase, the trio have been involved in multiple companies under the "Ngwato and Manzi" banner – a name derived from the deputy president’s late wife, Manzi Mashatile. Mvelase and Mashatile share the same father in the deputy president but have different mothers.
CSD records from 2023 list Lefentse Modipadi Nokaneng as the owner of Modipadi Nokaneng. She has also co-directed companies with Mvelase and Mahlakoana. The current director of Ngwato and Manzi Group, Mzwandile Hleli, is listed as inactive on the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) records but has longstanding ties to Mvelase as a former schoolmate. Despite appearing as separate entities on paper, News24 uncovered that these companies shared staff and office space, further blurring the lines between them.
The scrutiny surrounding Modipadi Nokaneng stems from a GDOH contract for the maintenance of fire-suppression systems in hospitals across Gauteng. In June 2022, the Gauteng Department of Infrastructure Development, acting as an implementing agent for the GDOH, appointed Ngwato and Manzi Group and Modipadi Nokaneng as the only two service providers on its panel. The value of the tender nearly doubled from R49 million to just over R91 million, News24 reported. By September 2024, Ngwato and Manzi Group had been paid R17.9 million and was owed an additional R94 000, while Modipadi Nokaneng had received R28.7 million and was owed a staggering R43.9 million. These figures were disclosed in a formal reply to questions in the Gauteng legislature.
These deals are now the subject of a Public Protector investigation following numerous complaints. Adding to the company’s troubles, News24 previously reported that the South African Revenue Service (SARS) had issued Modipadi Nokaneng with a R3-million tax bill for unpaid value-added tax and penalties related to income the company received from multimillion-rand government tenders. Modipadi Nokaneng was served a final demand in July last year, and a court order was obtained in August, according to records.
News24 asked Mahlakoana about the outcome of the SARS matter and why Modipadi Nokaneng’s name had been changed, but received no response. Mashatile also did not respond to News24’s request for comment.
This incident highlights the ongoing concerns surrounding potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of government procurement processes, particularly when individuals with close ties to political figures are involved. The removal of Modipadi Nokaneng from the CSD raises questions about the effectiveness of oversight mechanisms and the extent to which National Treasury is proactively addressing instances of alleged irregular procurement.
Follow Us on Twitter
