Paul Mashatile is a South African politician who currently serves as the deputy president of South Africa. In 2022, he became the deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC), formerly serving as a treasurer and secretary.
Paul Mashatile’s Age
Paul Mashatile was born on the 21st of October 1961 in Gerhardsville, a municipal area in Gauteng province. He is currently 63 years of age and usually celebrates his birthday on the 21st of October.
Early Life and Education
Paul Mashatile was born in Gerhardsville in the Gauteng province to Mariam Nomvula Mashatile, a domestic worker.
As a student, he was heavily involved in anti-apartheid activism alongside prominent individuals, including Obed Bapala.
Paul Mashatile was a known member of the Congress of South African Students and became the co-founder of Alexandra Youth Congress.
In 1983, he represented the congress at the launch of the United Democratic Front (UDF) in Cape Town.
Paul Mashatile was a victim of arrest under a state of emergency following his political activism.
Career
Following the unbanning of the African National Congress (ANC) and South African Communist Party (SACP), Paul Mashatile gained prominence in the party and Gauteng province.
He held diverse positions within the ANC and the SACP while working with notable people, including Tokyo Sexwale.
In 1994, Paul Mashatile was elected to the Gauteng provincial legislature while becoming the house leader.
He later joined the provincial cabinet and served for 13 years while being MEC for transport and public workers, MEC for safety and security, and MEC for finance and economic affairs.
During the same period, Paul Mashatile quickly became influential in the ranks of the Gauteng ANC.
Despite being considered to succeed Motshekga, he lost twice while competing for the deputy championship.
ANC Gauteng Chairperson
In 2007, Paul Mashatile launched a bid for the provincial championship while going against Angie Motshekga and Nomvula Mokonyane, who were fellow MECs.
Despite being rumoured not to be a fan of ANC heads Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, he was still sighted as a future successor of the ANC leadership.
After the decline of provincial chairperson Shilowa, Paul Mashatile was elected as the ANC provincial chairperson.
In 2009, he was replaced by deputy ANC chairperson Nomvula Mokonyane while being appointed as minister of arts and culture under the presidency of Jacob Zuma.
The position was seen as a “slap to his face” following his influence in the party. The following year, Paul Mashatile won the elections for the position of ANC provincial chairperson.
In 2010, he was promoted to minister of arts and culture; Paul Mashatile was sworn into the national assembly to resume office.
In 2012, Paul Mashatile stood for the position of national treasure general and lost the vote badly. He could not gain enough support to secure his previous position in the national executive committee.
After the re-election of Jacob Zuma in 2014, Paul Mashatile was sacked and immediately returned to the national assembly while heading the appropriations committee.
In 2016, he left the national assembly following his appointment as MEC for human settlements and cooperative governance in David Makhura’s cabinet of Gauteng.
After two years, Paul Mashatile left his position and became the ANC treasurer general in full capacity. He remained a strong opponent of Jacob Zuma and headed the party’s call for him to step down as president of the country.
National ANC
In 2017, Paul Mashatile was elected as the treasurer general of the ANC at its 54th national conference. He was fortunate to work with the presidential candidate, Cyril Ramaphosa, which made his support high.
Most people mentioned that Paul Mashatile had a hand in Ramaphosa’s election as president of the country.
In 2022, following the suspension of the secretary general and his deputy, who was seriously sick, Paul Mashatile was appointed secretary general.
During the same year, he was appointed as the deputy president of the ANC while working under Cyril Ramaphosa.
Paul Mashatile quickly became the favorite to occupy the national deputy president position, and after David Mabuza’s resignation, he was appointed by Ramaphosa to become the country’s deputy president.
Family
Paul Mashatile was married to the late Manzi Ellen Mashatile; together they had four children.
Net Worth
Paul Mashatile has an estimated net worth of R6.4 billion.