Deputy President Paul Mashatile has confirmed that his motorcade was struck by gunfire during what is now being investigated as a possible assassination attempt. The incident, which occurred on 30 March in Boksburg, Gauteng, only came to public attention weeks later, prompting speculation and debate over its significance and the reasons for the delay in disclosure.
Speaking publicly for the first time about the incident during an Easter Sunday visit to the KwaSizabantu Mission in KwaZulu-Natal, Mashatile said he had initially assumed the impact on his vehicle was caused by stones. It was only after further inspection by his protection unit that the true nature of the event became apparent.
“What happened is that as I was driving from the NEC, my car was hit by what initially I thought were stones,”
he said.
“When we got home, the protectors said the impact was too much, and they want to take it for checking because you know a bulletproof windscreen is too strong to be damaged. That’s why they are doing the investigation.”
Mashatile had been returning from an African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting when the incident occurred. Although visibly calm while addressing the matter, he acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, reiterating that investigations are ongoing and that he was not aware of the motive behind the shooting.
“They [police] are investigating, but for now there is nothing to worry about. Let us focus on work,”
he told journalists.
[ICYMI] “I thought it was stones…bullet proof windscreen is quite strong to be damaged,” Deputy President Paul Mashatile explains the incident where his official car was allegedly shot at. #Newzroom405 pic.twitter.com/3XRUm9eDKR
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) April 21, 2025
While Mashatile’s spokesperson, Keith Khoza, confirmed that the Deputy President had emerged unharmed and the South African Police Service (SAPS) had been informed, police officials remained tight-lipped. Brigadier Athlenda Mathe, SAPS national spokesperson, cited official policy when asked for comment.
“The SAPS does not discuss or comment on the safety and security of the president, deputy president, or cabinet members in the public domain,”
Mathe stated.
Khoza added that the reason for the delay in publicising the matter was due to investigators trying to determine the type of firearm used. The SAPS has provided no additional information, fuelling further speculation about the circumstances of the shooting.
ANC Treasurer-General Dr Gwen Ramokgopa addressed the matter at the ANC Northern Cape elective conference. While cautioning against drawing premature conclusions, she acknowledged the authenticity of this particular report.
“Usually when there are these reports [of assassination], many of them are fake, actually,”
Ramokgopa told reporters.
“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.”
Ramokgopa added that although the ANC would conduct its own internal review of the matter, it was ultimately up to the appropriate state agencies to carry out the investigation.
“It is ultimately the responsibility of the relevant agencies of the state,”
she said.
Security analyst Andy Mashaile told IOL News that the delay in addressing the incident publicly might be linked to strategic advice from intelligence agencies.
“If the incident happened earlier and he spoke about it only recently, it might mean one thing: he was advised not to disclose it to avoid creating panic,”
Mashaile explained.
“You do not want to create an environment where copycats feel encouraged to target blue-light vehicles,”
he added.
The revelation has drawn strong reactions from the public, especially on social media platforms. Some users have accused Mashatile of manufacturing the incident for political mileage, drawing parallels with previous political narratives.
“Mashatile is using a well-tested Msholozi playbook of positioning himself as a victim. I guess next he’ll be shouting: ‘state institutions are being used against me’,”
one user posted.
Another sceptic commented:
“We are not stupid. Stop imagining things. Imagine a DP get shot at and all media is not at the scene within 30 minutes. Paul Mashatile must go talk to trees. Sympathy for 2027 will not work with us.”
The incident and its timing—immediately following a high-level ANC NEC meeting—have raised questions about internal party dynamics. Professor Jéan Steyn, a criminal justice expert at the University of Zululand, suggested the attack may reflect deeper political tensions within the ruling party.
“The timing of the incident, post-ANC NEC meeting, and its delayed disclosure could intimate internal ANC dynamics or factionalism,”
Steyn said.
Mashatile is among those anticipated to contend for the ANC presidency in 2027. However, his name is not the only one being circulated. Insiders also point to Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula as potential candidates for the top post, underscoring the complex and often fraught nature of succession politics within the party.
