CYRIL'S RIGHT-HAND MAN

Experts weigh in on the prospects of South Africa's new deputy president Paul Mashatile

- NADINE RAMONGONE & NASIFA SULAIMAN

POPULAR and influential, a political leader with strong ties to the community he grew up in – but a man tainted by scandal and allegations of corruption.

This in a nutshell is Paul Mashatile, Cyril Rama­phosa’s new right­hand man and the man who could well be the next presi­ dent of South Africa.

The 61­year­old was recently sworn in as deputy president along with other ministers who made the cut after Rama­ phosa’s cabinet reshuffle – and South Af­ricans can expect a very different deputy to the one whose shoes he has to fill.

David Mabuza nicknamed himself “the cat” after surviving a car crash but his nine lives were up when the ANC confer­ence elected Mashatile as deputy presi­dent. Usually whoever is deputy of the ruling party is also deputy of the country.

Political analysts are cautiously opti­ mistic about Mashatile, describing him as someone who can make the right de­cisions when needed. “He’s a firm leader who always listens, even if he disagrees with you,” says Ntombi Mekgwe, a mem­ ber of the Gauteng provincial legislature where Mashatile has a long history.

But he’s no pushover, adds Humphrey Mmemezi, a former member of the ANC’s national executive committee. “He’s a meek giant, a true gentleman – but don’t mess with him.”

Here’s everything you need to know about the man who holds the No 2 posi­tion in the land.

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