“Your Only Money Is Your Salary”: Mantashe Sends Blunt Warning to Ministers

As corruption clouds gather, Gwede Mantashe reminds ministers: play it straight or face the fallout.

At a time when political reputations are sinking faster than trust in public institutions, Mineral Resources Minister Gwede Mantashe didn’t mince his words.

Speaking at the memorial service of former Deputy President David Mabuza in Mpumalanga, Mantashe told his fellow cabinet ministers to keep their hands clean or end up in hot water.

“As a cadre, you must be ethical,” he said with a mix of sincerity and sharp humour. “You must not be elected and later enrich yourself with money that does not belong to you. Your only money is called a salary.”

Then came the kicker: “Once you take money that is not your salary and put it in your pocket, you’ll meet Mchunu.”

When a Joke Isn’t Just a Joke

Mantashe was, of course, referring to embattled Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, now at the centre of one of the most explosive political storms in recent memory.

Mchunu has been accused of being entangled in a criminal syndicate allegedly linked to drug cartels, according to shocking claims made by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. These allegations, while still unproven, have rocked the political landscape and raised serious questions about interference in SAPS operations.

Mkhwanazi didn’t hold back. He suggested that top law enforcement figures, including Mchunu and Deputy National Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya, are part of a powerful political network one with alleged backing from organised crime and corporate interests.

Mchunu’s Shifting Story Raises Eyebrows

One of the most glaring red flags? Mchunu’s evolving account of his relationship with businessman Brown Mogotsi. In March, Mchunu flatly denied knowing Mogotsi during a parliamentary session, even after being shown a photograph.

Fast forward to this week, and Mchunu now admits he knows Mogotsi “only as a comrade,” he says.

The public isn’t buying it. Critics on social media and within Parliament are calling this a credibility crisis. “First he didn’t know the man, now he’s a comrade? Something’s not adding up,” one Twitter user posted. Others are demanding full transparency, using hashtags like #MchunuMustExplain and #CleanUpSAPS.

Ramaphosa Steps In

With the country watching closely, President Cyril Ramaphosa has scheduled a national address for Sunday at 7pm. The much-anticipated “family meeting” is expected to focus on the swirling corruption allegations and Mkhwanazi’s bombshell claims.

Political analysts say this could be a defining moment for Ramaphosa, a chance to take a clear stand against corruption, or risk being seen as soft on his ministers.

The Mantashe Family Drama

Ironically, Mantashe himself hasn’t been without controversy. Just last month, public outrage erupted after his son, Buyambo Mantashe, was appointed as a chairperson on a SETA board. Accusations of nepotism flew, and under pressure, the appointment was quietly reversed.

Mantashe’s critics have been quick to point out the contradiction: can a man who speaks boldly about ethics be trusted to uphold them in his own house?

Still, many applaud his latest remarks as the kind of straight talk South Africans rarely hear from within the ruling party.

The Bigger Picture: Ethics or Optics?

Whether Mantashe’s speech was a genuine rallying cry for clean governance or just another well-timed jab amid ANC factional battles, one thing is clear, the public appetite for accountability is growing.

With elections on the horizon and trust in political institutions teetering, South Africa can’t afford more half-truths or conveniently forgotten “comrades.”

The message to ministers, whether whispered in Parliament or shouted at a memorial, is now unavoidable:

Stick to your salary. Or get ready to face the music.