Deputy President Paul Mashatile has told the National Assembly that the government will not allow mob violence and that security forces have been asked to deal with criminality that is emerging in protests directed at undocumented foreign nationals.
He was answering oral questions in the National Assembly.
Mashatile says he condemns violence and urged law enforcement authorities to deal with the matter.
“ Government will continue to prioritise South Africans, whether in jobs or in other services, but we will deal with issues of criminals very decisively because we are a country that believes in laws. We are an orderly country. We must never allow any mob psychology and the killing of people when there are laws that can deal with these challenges.”
On the question of axed Social Development Minister Sisisi Tolashe, Mashatile says transparency and accountability from members of the executive as well as of Parliament is non-negotiable.
Tolashe was accused by some of the political parties in Parliament of not declaring luxury vehicles that were a donation to the African National Congress Women’s League from the Chinese Embassy, which she allegedly registered under her children’s names.
“Tolashe, as a minister, did appear before the Ethics Committee. If I recall did appear before the Integrity Commission of the ANC. Did appear before the president, so accountability did kick in. So, we must, in fact, commend the president for having taken steps when he realised that the explanation was not satisfactory.”
Mashatile refuted allegations that he influenced a multi-billion-rand tender for the lotto operator.
He added that there is no need for another investigation into the matter, as it has been done by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition, Parks Tau, leading to delays in the appointment of the new operator.
“I am not going to walk away from my friend because he is in business, but what I will not do is to go to a department of government and say give my friend a business because I have never done that, but I will not walk away from my friends because they are in business.”
On land restitution, Mashatile said the programme will continue until all the land that was taken from its rightful owners is returned. He said he will soon get statistics on the effectiveness of the deployment of soldiers to assist the police in fighting gangsterism and illegal mining in some of the provinces in the country.
We are continually investing in strengthening the Criminal Justice System to be able to fight crime and ensure safer communities.
I am confident that you will agree that the work of the Madlanga Commission, is already delivering desired results.#MashatileQandA pic.twitter.com/CDN3SRY5tO
— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) May 21, 2026
Government remains committed to a just, equitable, and legally sound land reform programme that addresses historical dispossession while ensuring economic stability and food security. #MashatileQandA#MashatileNA#ExecutiveAccountability pic.twitter.com/YbjlSb0t99
— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) May 21, 2026
The Ministers, Deputy Ministers and I working together with the NHTKL and all spheres of Government are combating any form of discrimination against women, especially on matters of land ownership and security of tenure.#MashatileQandA#MashatileNA#ExecutiveAccountability pic.twitter.com/7PzGiXWRs0
— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) May 21, 2026
VIDEO | Deputy President Paul Mashatile Q&A session in Parliament:
