While many South Africans are tightening their belts, Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s multi-million rand homes have sparked heated debate—especially as critics wonder how he’s managing to afford them on a public servant’s salary.
One of the most vocal challengers? Former COSATU general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi, who’s doing the maths and raising eyebrows.
A R28 Million Cape Town Mansion Raises Eyebrows
Mashatile, now 64, recently confirmed ownership of a Constantia Upper villa in Cape Town, officially valued at R28 million.
This comes after years of rumours swirling about his lavish lifestyle.
But that’s not his only high-end property—he also owns homes in Midrand’s Waterfall area and in Kelvin, Johannesburg.
Altogether, the properties are estimated to be worth about R65 million.
Vavi Does the Math—And It Doesn’t Add Up
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Vavi broke down the numbers publicly.
Mashatile earns a salary of around R3.2 million a year as Deputy President.
That works out to a monthly take-home of roughly R161,200.
Now, here’s where the math gets shaky.
According to Vavi, bond repayments for the Constantia villa alone could range between R248,000 and R280,000 a month—significantly more than Mashatile’s take-home income. Vavi commented:
“No bank will approve the loan based on the government salary.
So there has to be another income from elsewhere.”
The Hidden Costs of Luxury Living
Luxury real estate expert Gary Phelps told eNCA that keeping up a home like Mashatile’s isn’t for the faint of wallet.
Between rates, taxes, and maintenance, monthly expenses can shoot up to R40,000—excluding the bond.
Phelps didn’t mince words:
“You’ve got to earn about R1.2 million a month to qualify to buy this house.”
That means the Deputy President would need an income almost eight times higher than what he’s officially earning to comfortably afford his Constantia home.
More Mansions, More Questions
The Constantia villa isn’t the only luxury property raising eyebrows.
Mashatile also has a R39 million mansion in Waterfall, Midrand, and another upscale home in Kelvin.
That’s a lot of real estate for someone with no declared side businesses or significant assets outside of a pension fund and an Old Mutual investment, according to the official financial interests report.
A Web of Family Ties and Denials
Mashatile has denied owning the homes outright.
He claims the Constantia property was acquired through his son-in-law, Nceba Nonkwelo, who is married to his daughter, Palesa.
The Midrand estate, he says, was bought “jointly by his sons and son-in-law” using a standard bank loan.
He insists it’s used as a shared family home due to its enhanced security.
But there’s more. Nonkwelo is reportedly under investigation by the Hawks, and Mashatile’s sons—Thabiso and Tinyiko—have also been linked to large government tenders from departments Mashatile once led.
His spokesperson, Keith Khosa, has denied any wrongdoing or conflict of interest on Mashatile’s part.
Ongoing Corruption Allegations
In 2024, the Democratic Alliance (DA) filed criminal charges against Mashatile, accusing him of corruption, nepotism, and patronage.
The party claims he’s the ultimate beneficiary of these multi-million rand deals—allegations he continues to deny.