Paul Mashatile, sworn in this week as an MP and on the cusp of becoming the country’s second in command, has always bucked the ANC’s ingrained factionalism.
Winning the post of ANC deputy president at the party’s national conference in December was particularly impressive in light of his refusal to align himself with either of the two main camps.
It is not the first time he has broken the mould of the ANC’s wearisome and destructive internal politics.
At the party’s national conference in 2017, it was Mashatile’s behind-the-scenes deal-making and collaboration with the then Mpumalanga premier David Mabuza that propelled both of them into the ANC’s top six — and clinched Ramaphosa’s victory as president.
He was among the very few in the ANC who were willing to oppose Jacob Zuma when the former president was at the height of his career.
This was never more clear than at a national executive committee meeting in Cape Town in March 2014. It was a tense time; public protector Thuli Madonsela had released her damning report into the R246m “security” upgrades for Zuma’s private residence at Nkandla just 10 days earlier.
National elections were looming amid a rising tide of public outrage against Zuma and calls for him to heed Madonsela’s recommendations and “pay back the money”.
But Zuma was defiant. He assembled a powerful entourage to accompany him to the NEC meeting. The team included the then police commissioner, Riah Phiyega, and Thulas Nxesi, who was then minister of public works. Phiyega treated the NEC to a video presentation of the “fire pool” concept and its essential role in the president’s safety.
Next up was Nxesi, who told the meeting the State Security Agency had warned that Zuma’s security at Nkandla would have to be beefed up. It was a heart-wrenching tale about how Zuma was South Africa’s first “rural” president, and had unique security requirements.
Just about everyone at the meeting bought into the hogwash. Of course, the “fire pool” video went on to become a tragic running joke after it was publicly presented two years later by Nxesi’s successor at public works, Nkosinathi Nhleko.
The president is very comfortable with comrade Paul, he will make an outstanding deputy president.
— Zamani Saul
Two people at that NEC meeting were willing to openly reject the Nxesi/Phiyega poppycock. The first to stand up was Mashatile, who said little about the bizarre presentations but declared that Zuma should pay back the money.
He was supported by Pallo Jordan.
It is crucial to note that others at that meeting included many who today parade their “renewal” credentials — Gwede Mantashe, Bheki Cele, Pravin Gordhan, Enoch Godongwana, Derek Hanekom, Joe Phaahla and even Ramaphosa himself. None of them said a word. The NEC came out in support of Zuma, though two years later the courts ordered him to pay back the money.
After that meeting, Zuma took the first opportunity to fire Mashatile as minister of arts & culture.
Many of those in the Ramaphosa camp regard Mashatile as an unpredictable quantity and are deeply uncomfortable about his triumph at Nasrec in December. This is why nonsensical rumours persist that he will not step into Mabuza’s shoes as deputy president of the government.
But Ramaphosa loyalist and Northern Cape premier Zamani Saul tells the FM that Ramaphosa has full confidence in Mashatile.
“The president is very comfortable with comrade Paul, he will make an outstanding deputy president,” says Saul. “He is decisive, politically upright and a very experienced cadre. The timing of his appointment is perfect — just a year before the national elections. He and the president make a formidable team.”
It is high time that someone like Mashatile came along to challenge the pedestrian ANC paradigm. Thinking outside the box is not something the Ramaphosa camp is known for — frankly, most of them are former Zuma loyalists who simply switched sides when they saw which way the wind was blowing.
Mashatile’s brand of politics is refreshing, a breath of fresh air in the perpetual ANC feuding that has helped to bring the country to its knees.
He should be closely watched; he has become the ANC’s man apart.
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