Mashatile ‘ready’ to succeed Ramaphosa as ANC president

Paul Mashatile is “prepared” to take over as ANC president from Cyril Ramaphosa if the party branches select him at the 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, saying he is looking forward to tending to his Ankole cattle and buffaloes, meaning Mashatile is the first party member to publicly put their hand up for the position.

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

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

He was trounced by Mashatile in a three-person race for the party’s deputy presidency at the 55th national elective conference in 2022.

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.

No guaranteed path to Union Buildings

Before 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 elect a president. This election loss 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 become the first party leader since the dawn of South Africa’s democracy to not become head of state.

It would be a bitter pill to swallow for Mashatile, considering he has already sat in the prime seat of executive power, albeit in an acting capacity.

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