Mashatile ‘ready’ to replace Ramaphosa as ANC president

Paul Mashatile is “ready” to replace Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC president, if he is called upon to do so by branches come the party’s national elective conference in 2027.

Mashatile, who replaced David Mabuza as Ramaphosa’s second in command at the 2022 conference, said he had “always been ready to serve” when asked if he was in the running lead the ANC.

“Yes, definitely,” a resolute Mashatile told SABC News political editor Mzwandile Mbeje during an hour-long interview on Tuesday.

Recently, Ramaphosa revealed he would not be standing for a third term as president of the ANC and he is looking forward to his Ankole cattle and buffaloes, meaning Mashatile is the first party member to publicly put their hand up for the position.

However, he is may not be running unopposed. According to reports, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Ronald Lamola, could enter the race for ANC president. His star has been on the rise since he assumed the role of justice minister in the sixth administration.

Lamola is a former ANC Youth League deputy president and currently, a member of the ANC’s national executive committee, and at the late conference, he showed his political ambitions.

He lost out to Mashatile in a three-way race for the party’s deputy presidency at the party’s 55th national elective conference in 2022,

CandidateVotesPaul Mashatile2178 Ronald Lamola 315 Oscar Mabuyane1858

Will he ascend to the presidency?

If Mashatile – who was ANC treasurer-general between 2017-2022 – is successful in his bid to lead the liberation party, he would become the third deputy president since 1997 to ascend to the top of the party’s pyramid.

Before him, only Thabo Mbeki (replaced Nelson Mandela in 1997), Jacob Zuma (replaced Mbeki in 2007) and Ramaphosa (replaced Zuma in 2017) became party presidents after serving as deputies.

Only Kgalema Motlanthe (deputy between 2007-2012) and Mabuza (2017-2022) failed to become party presidents.

Before the this year’s 29 May elections, it was generally accepted that the president of the ANC would almost certainly become president of South Africa.

However, this is no longer a given, especially after the ANC’s electoral losses, where they received 40.18% of the vote (159 parliamentary seats out of 400), down from 57.50% in 2019 (230 seats).

This marked the ANC’s worst-ever electoral performance since 1994 and meant that an ANC candidate needed, for the first time, help from opposition parties in the National Assembly to install a president. This also necessitated the formation of the so-called government of national unity.

So should Mashatile become the 15th president of the ANC in 2027, he could be the first party leader since the dawn of South Africa’s democracy to not become head of state.

Watch the full interview below

ANC presidents since its formation in 1912

1912–1917: John Langalibalele Dube

1917–1924: Sefako Mapogo Makgatho

1924–1927: Zacharias Richard Mahabane

1927–1930: Josiah Tshangana Gumede

1930–1936: Pixley ka Isaka Seme

1937–1940: Zacharias Richard Mahabane

1940–1949: Alfred Bitini Xuma

1949–1952: James Sebe Moroka

1952–1967: Albert John Luthuli

1967–1991: Oliver Reginald Tambo

1991–1997: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

1997–2007: Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki

2007–2017: Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma

2017–present: Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa

ANC deputy presidents since 1912

1912–1936: Walter Benson Rubusana
1952–1958: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
1958–1985: Oliver Reginald Tambo
1985–1991: Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela
1991–1994: Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu
1994–1997: Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki
1997–2007: Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma
2007–2012: Kgalema Petrus Motlanthe
2012–2017: Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa
2017–2022: David Dabede Mabuza
2022–present: Paul Shipokosa Mashatile

Do you think Paul Mashatile will become ANC president?

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