Re-elected African National Congress (ANC) Northern Cape Chairperson Zamani Saul has cautioned that the alleged shooting involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile’s vehicle could deepen divisions within the party ahead of the 2027 elective conference.
“Who, in his right mind, would go out and want to kill a deputy president of the ANC for a 40% party?” Saul said.
“Deputy presidents were not killed when we had 70%, we come to believe these things because of the division within our ranks. So comrades, if we want to attract our supporters who decided not to go and vote for us, we must project unity and rebuild the African National Congress.”
Saul was speaking on Tuesday during the opening day of the elective conference of the ANC in the Northern Cape held in Kimberley.
His remarks came hours before police confirmed the incident involving Mashatile’s convoy.
On Tuesday night, News reported that in response to the alleged shooting, National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola moved to reassure the country about the safety of South Africa’s executive.
Masemola emphasised that the SA Police Service (SAPS) had members assigned to the president and his deputy who are trained with high level of skills and possess the necessary expertise and capabilities to avert any risk and threat.
“The resources assigned to safeguard the executive are also adequate and designed to prevent any direct and imminent threat on their lives,” he said
He confirmed that a comprehensive investigation was currently under way, with a preliminary ballistics report already concluded.
Meanwhile, ANC Treasurer-General Dr Gwen Ramokgopa dismissed claims of an assassination attempt as baseless but confirmed that the reported shooting involving Mashatile was under review by the ANC’s secretariat.
“Usually when there are these reports, many of them are fake,” Ramokgopa told the media at the ANC Northern Cape elective conference.
“We have referred these matters to the secretariat to handle internally. Ultimately, it remains the responsibility of state agencies to investigate.”
The alleged shooting, which reportedly occurred on March 30, only became public on Sunday when Mashatile mentioned it during a visit to KwaSizabantu Mission in Kranskop, KwaZulu-Natal.
Speaking at the Easter service, Mashatile said his vehicle was hit by what he initially believed were stones while returning home from an ANC National Executive Committee meeting in Boksburg, Gauteng.
“When we got home, the protector said the impact was too strong. They wanted to take the vehicle for checking because a bulletproof windscreen is too strong to be damaged like that,” Mashatile said.
His spokesperson, Keith Khoza, confirmed Mashatile was unharmed and that police were investigating the matter.
Mashatile is widely expected to contest for the ANC presidency in 2027, although insiders suggest Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula are also seen as possible contenders.
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