By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
SA Police Services Commissioner General Fannie Masemola confirmed the shooting incident on the vehicle of Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Masemola said police are still investigating the shooting incident, while the ballistics report has been concluded.
The shooting occurred on the N12 highway while Mashatile was inside the vehicle from the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Meeting (NEC) meeting in Boksburg.
Mashatile spoke about the incident, explaining that his vehicle was hit by what he initially believed were stones while driving home.
In a media statement released on Tuesday night, national police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said: “The National Commissioner of the South African Police Service (SAPS) General Fannie Masemola takes this opportunity to assure the nation that the executive of the country, including the President and the Deputy President, are in safe hands.
“Members of the Presidential Protection Service (PPS) who are assigned to both the President and the Deputy President are trained to a high level of skill 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. While it is not common practice to discuss safety and security aspects of the executive, the National Commissioner deems it fit to assure the country that sufficient resources are always assigned to safeguard members of the national executive.”
“General Fannie Masemola confirms a shooting incident involving the Deputy President’s convoy. Following the incident, an extensive investigation was conducted and is still underway. The ballistics report has already been concluded. Crime Intelligence is also continuing with its regular risk and threat assessment on both the President and the Deputy President,” said Mathe.
“The commissioner confirms the reinforcement of security detail to both principals. He has also expressed gratitude with the manner in which members of the PPS safeguard handle the safety of both principals. The incident remains under investigation with a high level team assigned to investigate this case.”
Earlier on Tuesday, Mashatile’s assassination claims were rubbished by ANC Treasurer-General Dr Gwen Ramokgopa, saying the claims are baseless.
“Usually when there are these reports (of assassination), many of them are fake,” Ramokgopa said on Tuesday, speaking to the media at the ANC Northern Cape elective conference.
“We have seen a lot of fake things. We have referred these matters for the secretariat to deal with organisationally, and indeed, in due course, we will respond to that,” she said.
Ramokgopa added that while the ANC would assess the allegations internally, “it is ultimately the responsibility of the relevant agencies of the state” to investigate such incidents.
Her sentiments were also echoed by ANC leader in the Northern Cape, Zamani Saul, who said no one would attempt to kill a leader of a 40% party.
“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.”
Mashatile is widely expected to contest for the ANC presidency in 2027, yesterday he said, “all the branches know me by now”,confident Mashatile ready to lead if nominated.