Paul Mashatile Biography: Picture, Net Worth, Wife, Child, News, Age, Wikipedia

Paul Mashatile is a prominent South African politician and the current deputy president. He is also the deputy president of the African National Congress (ANC), the ruling party of South Africa.

He has a long history of activism and leadership in the struggle against apartheid and the development of democracy in South Africa.

He is from Gauteng, his home province, where he has held various positions in the provincial government and the ANC.

Profile

• Full name: Paul Shipokosa Mashatile
• Date of birth: October 21, 1961
• Age: 62 years old
• Gender: Male
• Place of birth: Gerhardsville, Pretoria, South Africa
• Nationality: South African
• Profession: Politician
• Height: 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
• Parents: Samuel Mashatile and Martha Mashatile
• Siblings: None
• Spouse: Hlumile Mjongile (m. 2023)
• Children: Palesa Mashatile and Thabiso Mashatile
• Relationship status: Married
• Net worth: $5 million

Early Life & Education

Paul Mashatile, who will be 62 in 2023, was born on October 21, 1961, in Gerhardsville, a rural area near Pretoria, South Africa.

He was the only child of Samuel and Martha Mashatile, who were farm workers. He grew up in a poor and oppressed community under the apartheid regime.

He attended primary school in Gerhardsville and secondary school in Alexandra, a township in Johannesburg.

He was exposed to the political and social realities of apartheid at a young age and became involved in the student and youth movements that challenged the system.

He joined the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) in 1976 and became president in 1980.

He also helped to form the Alexandra Youth Congress (AYC) in 1983 and became its chairperson. He was arrested and detained several times by the security forces for his activism and leadership roles.

He was also banned from attending gatherings or leaving his home district for five years.

Despite the restrictions and harassment, Mashatile continued his education and obtained a diploma in Economic Principles from the University of London through correspondence in 1988.

He also completed a Public Finance and Fiscal Policy certificate course at the University of South Africa in 1991. He obtained a master’s in Public and Development Management from the University of the Witwatersrand in 1998.

Personal Life

Paul Mashatile married Manzi Ellen Mashatile in 1986. They had two children, Palesa and Thabiso. Manzi was a teacher and a community activist who supported her husband’s political career.

She died in 2020 after a long illness. Mashatile remarried in 2023 to Hlumile Mjongile, a former ANC Youth League leader and a member of parliament.

Mashatile is a Christian and a member of the Zion Christian Church. He enjoys reading, music, and sports.

Career

Paul Mashatile began his political career in 1990 when he was elected as the secretary of the ANC in Alexandra. He was also a member of the ANC’s national executive and working committees.

He played a key role in the negotiations that led to the end of apartheid and the establishment of a democratic South Africa.

He was part of the ANC’s delegation that met with former president Nelson Mandela after his release from prison in 1990. He was also involved in drafting South Africa’s interim and final constitutions.

In 1994, Mashatile was elected as a member of parliament in the first democratic elections. He served as the portfolio committee chairperson on arts, culture, science, and technology. He was appointed deputy minister of arts and culture in 1996.

He resigned from his parliamentary and ministerial positions in 1998 to become the provincial secretary of the ANC in Gauteng. He was responsible for coordinating and implementing the ANC’s policies and programs in the province.

In 2004, Mashatile was elected as the provincial chairperson of the ANC in Gauteng. He also became a member of the executive council (MEC) for housing, local government, and development planning in the Gauteng provincial government.

He initiated several projects and programs to improve the delivery of housing and basic services to the people of Gauteng. He also oversaw the preparations for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, which South Africa hosted.

In 2008, Mashatile was appointed as the premier of Gauteng, the highest political office in the province. He led the provincial government until 2009 when Nomvula Mokonyane replaced him.

He then became the minister of arts and culture in President Jacob Zuma‘s first cabinet.

He held this position until 2014 when he was moved to the ministry of cooperative governance and traditional affairs. He was also elected as the treasurer-general of the ANC in 2017, a position that made him one of the party’s top six leaders.

In 2019, Mashatile was elected as the deputy president of the ANC, alongside Cyril Ramaphosa, who became the president of the party and the country.

Mashatile also became the deputy president of South Africa, succeeding David Mabuza, who resigned due to ill health.

As the deputy president, Mashatile is responsible for assisting the president in executing his duties and functions. He is also the leader of government business in parliament and the chairperson of the South African National AIDS Council.

Net Worth

Paul Mashatile has an estimated net worth of $5 million.

He has accumulated his wealth from his long and successful political career, as well as his investments and businesses.

Controversy

Paul Mashatile has faced some controversy and criticism in his political career. He has been accused of being involved in corruption, nepotism, and factionalism within the ANC and the government.

He has also been linked to some scandals and controversies, such as:

The Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP) is a multi-billion-rand project meant to upgrade and develop the Alexandra township but was marred by mismanagement, fraud, and irregularities allegations.

Mashatile was the MEC for housing and local government when the project was launched in 2001 and was accused of failing to oversee and account for the project’s funds and outcomes.

The Gauteng Economic Development Agency (GEDA), a provincial agency established to promote and facilitate economic growth and development in Gauteng, was dissolved in 2010 after an investigation revealed that it was involved in corruption, maladministration, and wasteful expenditure.

Mashatile was the premier of Gauteng when the agency was created in 2008 and was accused of appointing his allies and cronies to the board and management.

The VBS Mutual Bank scandal was a financial scandal that involved the looting and collapse of a small bank that catered to the rural and poor communities in South Africa.

Mashatile was the treasurer-general of the ANC when the scandal broke out in 2018 and was accused of receiving donations from the bank and its executives for the party’s campaigns and activities.

Mashatile has denied any wrongdoing or involvement in these and other controversies. He has maintained that he is innocent and has always acted in the best interests of the people and the country.

Social Media

• Twitter handle: @PaulMashatile
• Instagram handle: @paulmashatile