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Gwede Mantashe has betrayed the public trust placed in him and should, as a minimum, be immediately suspended pending the outcomes of a criminal investigation, writes Tebogo Khaas.
When two philandering politicians duel for the affection of a nubile, enterprising lass an eclectic explosion of political intrigue, cover-ups and double standards inexorably emerge.
This could, inadvertently, threaten the integrity of a presidency predicated on a promise of ethical leadership and the rule of law.
Let me explain.
The Sunday World broke a story which revealed a scandal involving Minerals and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe, Finance Minister Tito Mboweni and a young female student. These salacious revelations punctuated a weekend pregnant with political machinations and intrigue.
READ | Mantashe bribery claims: 'Parliament must probe minister'
Mantashe, a married father of three and chairman of the ANC, has, reportedly, admitted to an extramarital affair with the student – arguably young enough to be his granddaughter – whose affections he competed for with Mboweni. Mboweni is unmarried.
This scandal has placed Mantashe on a shameful list of politicians who have been caught grazing on pastures other than those manicured for their matrimonial consummation.
And just like his other already inducted comrades, Mantashe is unlikely to be admonished or censured by the toothless ANC integrity committee. His boss, President Cyril Ramaphosa, is unlikely to excoriate him either. The ANC hasn't even deigned to issue a statement on the saga.
On Sunday, millennial US Democratic congresswoman Katie Hill resigned her seat from Congress, a day after she admitted to an inappropriate relationship with a campaign staffer. Hill accuses her estranged husband of waging an abusive campaign to control and humiliate her now that their relationship is over.
Instead of offering to resign over the embarrassment he has wrought to his family, his Cabinet colleagues, the ANC and the society he leads, Mantashe is ostensibly delirious over his newfound notoriety for his apparent feline-sque coital prowess.
Democrats once again proved that they are willing to uphold strict ethical standards meant to prevent abuse and harassment, even if the price of doing so means potentially giving up a seat to the opposition, should they lose the special election consequent upon Hill's resignation.
Meanwhile, the Democrats, by accepting Hill's resignation, were holding her fully accountable even though her consensual affair falls nowhere near what we are accustomed to on these shores.
Instead of offering to resign over the embarrassment he has wrought to his family, his Cabinet colleagues, the ANC and the society he leads, Mantashe is ostensibly delirious over his newfound notoriety for his apparent feline-sque coital prowess.
Indeed, this demonstrates that the ANC is not just indifferent to serious incidents of predatory sexual and domestic abuse but, in some cases, the party is eager to support or encourage randy members who commit such acts. Whilst this criticism of the ANC may sound undeniably harsh, it is justified.
Around the same time as Deputy President David Mabuza, in his capacity as the patron of the Moral Regeneration Movement was publicly lamenting "a terrible breakdown of moral fibre of our society", Mantashe was apparently out-sowing Mboweni with his wild oats, whilst showering his concubine with massive reams of dough.
Nevertheless, like the French, South Africans are unmoved about what politicians do in their private space. Mantashe is thus safe on this score notwithstanding the irony of his conduct being acutely inimical to the social and moral regeneration demands of government.
But perhaps what's remarkable, in fact astounding, about the alleged improprieties and subsequent turn of events is Mantashe's nonchalant admission that he had, reportedly, paid inducements to two journalists from the Sunday World, with the intention to prevent them from publishing the story.
It boggles the mind why Mantashe would readily admit to such a serious offence, only to do an about turn a day later. The Sunday World stands by its reporting.
It seems indisputable that Mantashe, based on the reported information, has committed an offence of bribery. If found to be credible, this episode, including the Bosasa state capture cloud still hanging over his head, could prove damning for his political future.
Whereas it may not be a criminal offence to unleash the now-infamous tiger in him as he pleases, it is unlawful to offer or receive bribes.
In the end analysis, Mantashe has betrayed the public trust placed in him and should, as a minimum, be immediately suspended pending the outcomes of a criminal investigation. Ramaphosa's inaction could be interpreted as imperviousness on his part or fear to take necessary action against certain politicians.
Mantashe has risked the lives, health and wellbeing of his family. His shameful, selfish conduct has a corrosive effect on social mores, and exposes society's diminished moral fibre. What seems to irk some bachelors the most, however, is the fact that Mantashe and his freewheeling, state-sponsored profligacy distorts the dating market.
The irony of Mantashe, a supposed communist, splurging on an ostentatious lifestyle, compared to Mboweni, a supposed capitalist, who seems to lead a more frugal life, seems lost to the waBenzi commie.
Hill and Mantashe's cases illustrate the differences in ethical considerations between two political cultures, and society's gender-based double standards.
As most people would recall, during his campaign for election as US president, Donald Trump notoriously claimed that he could stand in the middle of New York City's 5th Avenue, shoot someone and nothing would happen to him.
The courts have, however, recently reminded Trump and his lawyers that, notwithstanding his justice department's policy which maintains otherwise, he is not immune to criminal prosecutions or investigations. Trump is currently a subject of an impeachment inquiry.
It is opportune that our criminal justice system be seen to be working effectively.
The proposition that the chairman of a ruling party and serving minister be criminally charged may sound too drastic, if not fantastical. However, if we are to be true to the values of our Constitution, we stand reminded that we are a nation governed by the rule of law.
And in our constitutional democracy, nobody is above the law.
- Khaas is chairman of Corporate SA, a strategic advisory and consulting firm.
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