Mashatile playing a hawk’s role in uncertain times

With the ANC national conference now over, who should we look out for politically in 2023? There is no doubt Cyril Ramaphosa will be the point of focus as president of the ANC and SA.

Contrary to his approach in his five years at the helm so far, the expectation is for him to deliver on his promises and to be decisive in his actions, including economic growth, reduced unemployment and acting on corruption involving senior ANC members.

Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan

With his ambitious Economic Reconstruction and Recovery Plan announced in 2019, Ramaphosa undertook to ensure economic recovery.

The plan was frustrated by the outbreak of Covid the following year, but there was some recovery this year with a rise in gross domestic product and unemployment dropping. But the business of his handling of the burglary at his farm, Phala Phala, still awaits.

He is facing investigations by a number of agencies, like the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the public protector and the SA Reserve Bank, and anything could happen.

Mashatile ‘ready’

Newly elected ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile is waiting in the wings to take over as president of the ANC – and subsequently SA – if Ramaphosa is impeached or has to step aside.

Mashatile got what he wanted when he contested and won the No. 2 spot in the ANC. Should either Ramaphosa or current SA Deputy President David Mabuza have to leave office in the next few months, Mashatile would step up.

Influence

Mashatile, who is said to be a leader of the so-called Alexandra Mafia – a reference to an informal clique of ANC activists based in the Johannesburg township – has massive influence in provincial politics and the economy.

There are those, however, who are determined to block his ascent to the highest office. With divisions in the ANC, there were rumblings among members of the Ramaphosa camp when Mashatile won the deputy position over Oscar Mabuyane, the Eastern Cape’s premier and provincial chair, and Minister of Justice and Correctional Services Ronald Lamola.

Mashatile was backed by the Radical Economic Transformation faction, Some blamed the Ramaphosa camp for the loss after it fielded two candidates.

Analyst weighs in

Political analyst André Duvenhage said Mashatile was leading a third ANC faction, comprising what he termed “opportunists” who positioned themselves strategically to benefit from whatever happened to the main factions.

Like him or not, newly elected ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula is a force to be reckoned with within the party.

His detractors often judge him for his mistakes as transport minister, but his star has been rising in the ANC since he graduated from leading the ANC Youth League.

Mbalula is seen as one of Ramaphosa’s frontmen on the NEC. He promised to crack the whip against ill-discipline, especially by members who insulted the president or went against the party position in parliament.

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