‘Nobody’s plotting to oust you,’ Ramaphosa tells his deputy

President Cyril Ramaphosa has assured his deputy, Paul Mashatile, that his job at the Union Buildings is safe.

City Press reported that Mashatile said there were plans to remove him from office by August. He was elected the African National Congress (ANC) Deputy President in December 2022 during the party’s National Elective Congress and had David Mabuza pave the way for his appointment as Ramaphosa.

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ARE RAMAPHOSA AND MASHATILE FEUDING?

Well, President Cyril Ramaphosa said he confronted Paul Mashatile after reading the article.

“I also saw the report [in the] City Press, and I had a discussion with the deputy president. I said, ‘What is this?’ We are going to have another discussion,” he said on Sunday, 9 July 2023.

Ramaphosa said there was no substance to Mashatile’s claims.

“I immediately said to him, I appointed you, and I am the only person that can disappoint you. There’s just no thought, no plan, no inkling whatsoever that something like that is in the works,” the president further said.

WHAT DID THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT SAY?

According to City Press, Mashatile claimed that those plotting to remove him have been baying for his blood since even before his election at the conference.

“I became aware that there were people trying to stop me being appointed at the Union Buildings. In fact, they began plotting last year at the political level. They didn’t want me to become deputy president of the ANC, but the conference elected me,” Mashatile was quoted as saying.