smear campaign

South Africa: Who wants Mashatile out and why

By Fikile Ntsikelelo Moya

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Posted on April 4, 2023 17:04

© Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile waves during the welcome ceremony during Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s state visit to South Africa at the Union buildings in Pretoria on March 16, 2023. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP) — Deputy President of South Africa Paul Mashatile waves during the welcome ceremony during Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan’s state visit to South Africa at the Union buildings in Pretoria on March 16, 2023. (Photo by PHILL MAGAKOE / AFP)

If Paul Mashatile thought he had come out of the ANC’s December congress unscathed, then he may have cause for concern.

At the closing of the 55^th National Conference, Mashatile was elected as the governing ANC’s deputy president with Cyril Ramaphosa voted in as president for his second term.

Ahead of the party elections, Mashatile faced opposition from fellow Ramaphosa supporters who were understood to prefer Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane to deputise for Ramaphosa.

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