ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile's chances of becoming the party’s deputy president were enhanced this week when the leadership of his home province Gauteng became the latest to endorse him.
The Gauteng endorsement comes after Limpopo gave him the nod. His allies expect the North West to also endorse him.
The Sunday Times understands the Gauteng provincial executive committee (PEC) meeting on Friday was unanimous in endorsing Mashatile for deputy president and Cyril Ramaphosa to return for a second term as president.
“There were no disagreements at all, the PEC was unanimous on everything. Even on policy position [it] was unanimous,” ANC Gauteng spokesperson Lesego Makhubela said.
“There was no acrimony, there were no disagreements on any issues, it was just comrades [in] debate on how we must communicate and advance this thing.”
Makhubela said the PEC was confident Mashatile would be supported by other provinces.
“We are confident, Mashatile has already been pronounced by Limpopo and other provinces will also assist ... I know there are many provinces which will do the same,” he said.
Though Mashatile has not openly declared his availability, his allies have been running his campaign for almost a year, first convincing Limpopo to rally behind him. His campaign appears to be more successful than those of his counterparts though there have been no posters or videos.
Also in the running for the position are ministers Ronald Lamola who was endorsed by Mpumalanga, Mamoloko Kubayi, Senzo Mchunu and Eastern Cape premier Oscar Mabuyane.
“There is only one campaign and it’s the Paul campaign ... there is no other campaign, tell me of any other campaign that you have come across. Paul is not campaigning for himself, there is not even a poster of his...” one of his allies said.
Those running Mashatile’s campaign say they are expecting most of the provinces to rally behind him. They say they have done enough in the past year to convince leaders in all provinces that he has shown qualities of leadership.
“Take it from the national general council of Durban where when there was a deadlock between the youth league and the main body. The man that they call chair of chairs gave leadership there and even presented a resolution,” one of his campaign managers said.
They said Mashatile’s leadership qualities were tested when he had to take over the party’s engine room in the absence of Ace Magashule who was suspended as secretary-general last year, and that of his deputy Jessie Duarte who died.
They have used this to lobby leaders from various structures to rally behind him.
“He has been giving leadership throughout. The way he performed with this tragic passing of Jessie and the absence of Ace. He’s been giving leadership on step-aside, he gave leadership when Zuma had to go. He has been given the most difficult task and he has excelled,” an insider said.
There is only one campaign by the way and it’s the Paul campaign
— one of Mashatile's allies
“When Zuma was in trouble with funding his legal fees he came to the party again. He did raise money for Zuma. You can ask the Zuma people, go and ask [Dudu] Myeni. After the decision was taken that the state would stop funding him and the man was running short ... Mashatile came to the party when a lot of these other people were not there for Zuma,” the insider said.
Mashatile’s power brokers are negotiating to have the top six elected uncontested.
Limpopo chair Stan Mathabatha, who is being supported by his province and Gauteng for national chair, also believes the presidency should not be contested as it breeds divisions.
“I still say that many of the positions will be uncontested. We will negotiate for that, and so far I think we are going that direction,” one of the Mashatile power brokers told the Sunday Times.
They say KwaZulu-Natal is their only headache as it has not yet pronounced.
A provincial leader who spoke to the Sunday Times on condition of anonymity said it had become clear Ramaphosa would come back as president.
The leader said the campaigns by Zweli Mkhize and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma for the top job were too late.
“I doubt that CR will be contested, he will easily come back. There hasn’t been a single province that has endorsed any other candidate. In Mpumalanga (David) Mabuza has raised his own hand as an individual but the PEC endorsed Ramaphosa,” the leader said.
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