gwede mantashe sanef

Photo: Twitter / @AngikhoRight

Gwede Mantashe sex scandal: Alleged ‘bribe offer’ to journalists sparks inquiry

Gwede Mantashe has been described as “a tiger” in the sheets, but he sounds more like “a liar” in the streets. Sanef will probe the minister even further.

gwede mantashe sanef

Photo: Twitter / @AngikhoRight

Many of us spent Sunday chewing our nails to the bone, willing the Springboks over the line against Wales at the Rugby World Cup. Gwede Mantashe had a very different reason to be nervous, though: Sunday World broke the story about an allegedly-steamy relationship the ANC minister was having with a student.

The details are as salacious as they come. The 26-year-old described the veteran politician as “a tiger in bed”, and also stated that she was engaged in sexual relations with Tito Mboweni. We guess one cabinet minister just isn’t enough for some people.

How much did Gwede Mantashe try to bribe journalists with?

However, it is Gwede Mantashe who is feeling the wrath on Monday morning. The publication had also detailed how the Energy supremo went to extreme lengths to block the story from going to print – including a hefty bribe and a frank admission of trying to influence two journalists behind the explosive article.

This unethical attempt to gag the media has caught the attention of the South African National Editors Forum (Sanef). They reacted with fury when they learned of Mantashe’s attempted “hush payments”, understood to be worth R70 000 in exchange for the destruction of evidence relating to the story.

“Sanef is shocked to hear of the Minister of Mineral and Energy Affairs, Gwede Mantashe’s brazen alleged admission that he paid journalists to “bury” a story about his relationship with a student. Mantashe paid the journalists R70 000 to “destroy evidence” backing the story. Mantashe has not revealed their names.”

“Sanef believes that ‘brown envelope’ journalism is completely counter to journalism ethics. We champion ethical journalism. We believe that if anyone has any evidence of unethical journalism – including the very serious breach of accepting funds for journalism – they should go to the Press Council.”

Sanef statement on Gwede Mantashe

How will this affect the ANC?

It comes at the worst possible time for Cyril Ramaphosa: He reiterated his claims that ANC members will no longer be able to get away with “wrongdoing” in the party on Sunday. Mantashe’s bribe crosses a red line, and attempts to capture the media are a terrible look for a government that was elected on an anti-corruption ticket.

We are in the early stages of the matter, but the nature of the allegations and Mantashe’s subsequent reaction could, quite conceivably, land him in front of a Parliamentary Ethics Committee. The way he has apparently handled this case also has the potential to cost him his job – and, as Nhlanhla Nene found out last year, honesty isn’t always the best policy…

Nene was fired as finance minister shortly after giving a round of explosive testimony to the State Capture Inquiry in October 2018. He admitted that his son had benefited from his role in the PIC. In comparison, Mantashe has already admitted his guilt in this matter – but that might not be enough to save his bacon.

Then you have the dynamic with Tito Mboweni to consider, too. The ministers are both scandal-plagued, but Mantashe comes off much worse in this scenario. If the ANC are to stick to their promises of unity and clean governance, entertaining two-thirds of a love triangle in their ranks isn’t going to help matters.

Sanef want Gwede Mantashe held accountable

The group are now chasing accountability, and they have vowed to get to the bottom of this murky swamp. In a statement shared on Sunday, Sanef said they would undertake the following actions:

  • Write to Minister Gwede Mantashe to request that he reveals the names of the journalists involved.
  • Support further investigations into this matter and get Sunday World journalists to sign an “ethics pledge”.
  • Add a specific clause to their “draft rules of engagement” with political parties, which calls upon politicians to support an outright ban on any form of “brown envelope” journalism.


In fact, this breach of the ethical code could well be the straw that breaks the camel’s back: Sanef have also moved to establish an independent Inquiry into “Media Credibility and Ethics”, chaired by retired Judge Kathleen Satchwell. They are encouraging all South Africans to call out corruption in the media, as and when they see it: