KEY POINTS
-
The ANC was not informed about the alleged shooting incident involving Deputy President Paul Mashatile until it was reported in the media.
-
A high-level police investigation is currently underway, but party leaders are demanding a direct briefing and clarification from Mashatile himself.
-
Conflicting reactions within the ANC raise concerns about misinformation, internal division, and the politicization of unverified reports.
The African National Congress, ANC, has admitted it was blindsided by reports of an alleged assassination attempt on South Africa’s Deputy President Paul Mashatile, with party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula stating that neither the deputy president nor government authorities had informed the party of the incident prior to media coverage.
Sowetanlive reports that the alleged incident reportedly took place on March 30, as Mashatile was leaving an ANC national executive committee meeting in Johannesburg.
According to emerging details, his convoy came under fire when unidentified individuals allegedly shot at his vehicle multiple times.
“As the ANC, we are yet to release a comprehensive response to this situation. We call it a situation because it’s not clearly defined. As the ANC we were not aware of it until the reports surfaced in the media on Sunday,” Mbalula told eNCA during a televised interview on Wednesday. “We were taken aback by these reports because neither the deputy president nor anyone in government informed the ANC about this situation.”
Police have since confirmed that a high-level investigative team has been appointed to look into the matter.
The investigation is being led by the police commissioner, who has reportedly briefed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, with updates to be provided to the ANC leadership in due course.
Mbalula expressed frustration over the lack of transparency, noting that even senior ANC leaders learned of the matter through the press. “We’re looking forward to getting a comprehensive report from the deputy president’s office, as well as being personally briefed by him because it looks like it’s something that happened some time ago. It is not something that the ANC was made aware of in time except from the media reports,” he said.
Confusion and concern grow as party leaders await details of an unreported shooting involving Mashatile
The silence surrounding the alleged incident has fueled speculation and internal debate within the party. While some ANC officials expressed concern, others have openly questioned the credibility of the claims. Among them is ANC treasurer-general Gwen Ramokgopa, who along with the ANC’s Northern Cape chairperson, reportedly dismissed the incident as “fake news.”
Mashatile’s spokesperson, Keith Khoza, responded strongly to such skepticism. “We are not fabricating anything,” he said. “It is unfortunate that people would downplay such a serious matter.”
Mbalula also weighed in on the circulating doubts, warning against what he termed “agent provocateurs” and the influence of sensationalist media. “Many things get reported, especially in tabloid media. We must be wary of the work of agent provocateurs seeking to define situations and report them as truths,” he cautioned.
The ANC, according to Mbalula, has been historically harmed by the circulation of unverified or deliberately misleading information. “In this particular instance you don’t just jump into the truth about these matters because many things get to be said. Some reports are fake news, some are untruthful, and some are intended to sow divisions within the ANC itself,” he said. “The ANC, over time, has suffered because of unprocessed reports about its leaders and individuals.”
Law enforcement officials have remained tight-lipped on details of the case, citing the sensitivity of the investigation. However, insiders have confirmed that security around Mashatile has been heightened in light of the incident.
This is not the first time Mashatile has drawn headlines over security-related matters. His motorcade has previously been accused of aggressive behavior on public roads, further contributing to public scrutiny.
As the police investigation unfolds, the ANC and the public await clarity on whether the incident was a genuine attempt on Mashatile’s life or, as some have suggested, a misinterpreted event amplified by misinformation.
