Deputy President Paul Mashatile has launched his campaign for the ANC presidency.Mashatile used an event meant to honour uMkhonto Wesizwe combatants who fought in the Battle of Mutale River that saw them go toe to toe with the Venda Defence Force and the then South African National Defence Force, the apartheid army.
The event was held in Mofolo Soweto where ANC Gauteng leaders declared Mashatile one of their own and undertook to back him all the way.The deputy president tried to underplay his presidential ambitions by saying he could only be nominated by branches of the ANC and was certainly not campaigning.
“In the ANC we don’t campaign but are nominated and elected by branches at a conference, it’s coming in 2027 so maybe they might just nominate us,” said Mashatile.
Mashatile’s supporters, bused in from various parts of Johannesburg wore white T-shirts engraved with messages like “Mashatile yinkokheli” (Mashatile is a leader) “Mashatile Ithemba Lethu (Mashatile is our hope) Mashatile suggested he was somewhat of a natural successor to President Cyril Ramaphosa stating he’s well known within the liberation movement.
“No need to campaign, I’m sure all the branches know me by now so I will continue being on ground serving the people, maybe they can nominate someone us,” said Mashatile.
He played it safe indicating that ANC members could not nominate themselves for positions. Mashatile is currently isolated in the ANC with the handling of his “assassination attempt”.
Both the party and the government have not said anything, Mashatile threw shade at President Cyril Ramaphosa over the party’s dismal record) “we have to return the ANC to its former glory. We don’t want those things of 40 percent,” he said.