Is there an ongoing plot to out South Africa’s vice president Paul Mashatile? While some sources claim there is, the presidency has just refuted the claims.
Paul Mashatile himself had spoken about a plot (by unnamed people) to oust him from the position he assumed just over three months ago. Coming from the vice president himself, of course, such a claim bears a lot of weight.
Perhaps this informed President Ramaphosa himself addressing it.
By law, the president is empowered to appoint his deputy. And President Ramaphosa was actually the one who appointed Paul Mashatile. To allay the fears of his deputy, the president addressed him, noting that he was the one who appointed Mashatile and should also be the one to “disappoint” him.
And he has just made it clear that his deputy isn’t going anywhere. So that should at least settle it.
Having officially denied there is a plot to oust his deputy, all eyes are now on President Ramaphosa to see whether he actually meant those words or whether they were spoken to make his deputy lose guard while the plot to out him.
Mashatile is the second deputy president to serve under Ramaphosa. The previous deputy president resigned from his position in what was thought to be unclear circumstances.
