Paul Mashatile Biography, Age, Qualifications and Net Worth

Paul Mashatile (born October 21, 1961) is a 62-year-old politician and anti-apartheid activist who was appointed the Deputy President of South Africa in March 2023. His net worth is estimated between $1 million and $5 million.

Mashatile became an anti-apartheid activist in his youth, joining uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK), the military arm of the ANC, at a very young age. He subsequently grew his political career by taking up prestigious leadership roles in the ruling party. From serving as the Chairperson of ANC in Gauteng to becoming the party’s Treasurer-General, he returned to parliament in February 2023 and later emerged as the replacement of David Mabuza – former SA’s Deputy President in the next month.

How Old Is Paul Mashatile?

Paul Mashatile is 62 years old. He was born in Gerhardsville, near Pretoria in the then Southern Transvaal, on October 21st, 1961. Libra is his Zodiac sign.

Having been involved in politics since his formative years, Mashatile emerged as the inaugural president of the Alexandra Youth Congress at the age of 21, in September 1983. After becoming the Deputy President of South Africa at 61, he is now vying for the number one political position in the country.

Paul Mashatile’s Ethnicity and Tribe

Paul Mashatile was born in Gerhardsville, Pretoria, and the tribe he hails from is still uncertain. He is of black ethnic background and has spent most of his life in Gauteng. Throughout his palmy political career, he has been representing the Gauteng Province.

Mashatile Grew Up on the Farm

Paul Mashatile’s parents were Bishop Diamond Nyangeni and Mirriam Nomvula Mashatile. He is the third of his parent’s eight children. His family lived on a farm in Gerhardsville, Pretoria where his father served as a priest. And his mother was a domestic worker and also sold vegetables and household items as a side hustle.

Paul and his seven siblings assisted their mother in her small enterprise which helped them to acquire a solid work ethic. After some years, his family relocated to Atteridgeville, in the West of Pretoria. There, his father continued with his priestly duties and eventually rose to the rank of Bishop. He served as the Bishop of the East Hethlon Church until his demise in the year 2011 aged 82.

Sadly, Paul Mashatile’s mother, Marriam Nomvula Mashatile died in June 2020, also at the age of 82. She passed on peacefully in her sleep and was a source of encouragement and strength to her children while she was alive.

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Paul Mashatile’s Educational Qualifications

SA’s Deputy President attended Paradise Bend Primary School in Diepsloot, Johannesburg in the late ’60s. He lived with his aunt and uncle in the township before returning to Atteridgeville in 1972 to continue his schooling. He enrolled at Bathabile Primary School. Upon completion of his primary school education, he once again moved to Johannesburg where he attended Alexandra High School.

He matriculated from the school in the year 1982 at the age of 21. The high school was a former Roman Catholic School and thus, was commonly referred to as “Roma.” While there, Paul Mashatile was appointed a Sunday School teacher and secretary of the church. More so, following his imprisonment in 1984, the Pretoria-born decided to further his education while incarcerated.

Hence, he registered to study for a BA in Law at the University of South Africa. However, due to the difficulties in accessing study material on time, he was unable to complete his degree. He discontinued his law program with UNISA after being released from prison in 1989. Nonetheless, Paul Mashatile went on to enroll for a Diploma in Economic Principles at the University of London.

He successfully completed his studies and also went on to complete several courses with the university.

Paul Mashatile’s Previous Offices

As Paul Mashatile was born in a period of heightened political repression in South Africa, he became politically conscious at a young age. As a result, he has played diverse roles in the country’s political sphere, making worthwhile contributions. He started out as a freedom fighter and anti-apartheid activist and has moved on to become a prominent political figure in South Africa. Below are the offices e has held over the years:

1. President of AYCO in 1983

While attending Alexandra High School in Johannesburg, Paul Mashatile first got involved in politics. He joined the Congress of South African Students (COSAS) which was the progressive Learners Movement affiliated to the banned African National Congress. He then started the Alexandra Youth Congress (AYCO) along with his fellow comrades in September 1983.

Following his commitment, he was elected the first President of AYCO. He, afterward, was recruited by the ANC to work underground for the party and its military wing, uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK). In the same 1983 AYCO was launched, it became affiliated with the United Democratic Front (UDF). Then in the following year, Paul Mashatile got elected as the Assistant Secretary of the UDF Southern Transvaal, serving as the deputy of ANC stalwart, Mohammed Valli Moosa.

Due to his political activism, he was detained in the same 1984 under the State of Emergency regulations declared by P. W. Botha – then apartheid State President. He stayed over four years in prison without trial and eventually got released in April 1989.

2. Provincial Secretary of the ANC PWV Region (1992-1998)

After Mashatile was released from prison, he was restricted from taking part in any political activity. His movement also was restricted as he was placed under house arrest and had to report himself at the Alexandra Police Station twice a day. Nevertheless, he was elected General Secretary of the UDF Southern Transvaal in a secret underground meeting.

Consequently, he became a member of the National Executive Committee of the organization. And after the African National Congress, the South African Communist Party and several other political organizations were unbanned, Paul Mashatile served in the Interim Leadership Committee of both ANC and SACP in the PWV Region (now Gauteng).

He then became the Provincial Secretary of the ANC PWV Region in the year 1992 and executed the role until 1998 when he was elected to a higher position. Also, in the early ’90s, he was appointed the first Provincial Secretary of the South African Communist Party in the PWV Region.

3. 4th Premier of Gauteng Province (2008-2009)

A bona fide member of the ANC, Paul Mashatile occupied leadership positions in Gauteng in the ’90s and 2000s. After the party won the first democratic elections in the country in 1994, he was elected to the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, becoming the leader of the house. At the time, he also was an ex-officio member of the Gauteng Executive Council. Later in 1998, he was elected the Deputy Chairperson of the African National Congress in Gauteng.

In that same year, he served as the MEC for Safety and Security in the province. Meanwhile, from 1996 to 1998, Mashatile was the MEC of Transport, Roads and Public Works in Gauteng. And he played a pivotal role in the conceptualization and implementation of the now-popular Gauteng Rapid Railway Link. The 62-year-old also became the MEC of Housing in the province from 1999 to 2004.

And between 2004 and 2008, he served as the MEC of Finance and Economic Affairs. He was responsible for three departments―Gauteng Treasury, Economic Development, and the Gauteng Shared Services Centre (GSSC). Furthermore, in 2008, Paul Mashatile was elected the fourth Premier of Gauteng Province following the resignation of Premier, Mbhazima Shilowa. In that same year, he was elected the Chairperson of ANC in Gauteng and served in that position thrice between 2008 and 2018.

It is with great humility that I acknowledge the trust that members of the @MYANC has placed on my shoulders as the Deputy President of the organization that was key to my appointment as the Deputy President of our country. pic.twitter.com/yHCAYqY0W9

— Paul Mashatile🇿🇦 (@PMashatile) March 6, 2023

4. Member of the Parliament (2010-2016, 2023)

In the year 2009, Paul Mashatile resigned from the Gauteng Legislature after he was appointed Deputy Minister of Arts and Culture by then-President Jacob Zuma. He was further appointed the Minister of Arts and Culture by Zuma in October 2010 and subsequently, became a member of the parliament. He served in that position until 2014 when the term ended.

He got re-elected to the national assembly in May 2014 and served until February 2016. While there, Mashatile was the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Appropriations. And after years of working as a member of the Gauteng Provincial Legislature, the renowned political activist returned to the national assembly on February 6th, 2023. He replaced ANC MP, Tshilidzi Munyai who resigned from his position in the parliament.

5. Treasurer-General of the African National Congress (2017-2022)

In December 2017, at the ANC 54th National Conference, Paul Mashatile was elected the party’s Treasurer-General. He won by 2,517 votes against Maite Nkoana-Mashabane who had 2,178 votes. Due to his position, he worked full-time at Luthuli House Headquarters and thus, resigned from his Gauteng provincial government work.

Later in January 2022, the SA’s Deputy President was appointed the Acting ANC Secretary General by the party’s National Executive Committee. At the time, the Secretary-General, Ace Magashule was on suspension and Jessie Duarte – the Deputy Secretary General was on sick leave. Following the death of Duarte in July 2022, Mashatile held dual roles (Treasurer-General and Secretary-General) until December 2022 when he emerged as the Deputy President of the African National Congress.

Paul Mashatile was Appointed South Africa’s Deputy President in March 2023

In late January 2023, then-Deputy President, David Mabuza, made known to President Cyril Ramaphosa his intention to resign. Afterward, there was a reshuffling of cabinet and Paul Mashatile was appointed to the executive position of the 9th Deputy President of South Africa. He assumed office on March 7th, 2023, and on the same day, he was appointed special envoy to South Sudan by Ramaphosa, which is part of his duties as the deputy president.

Also, he will be involved in other peace missions in Africa and equally, become leader of government business in the parliament. Furthermore, Mashatile will be leading the land reform program in the government. And now serves as the Chairman of the South African National Aids Council.

How Much Is Paul Mashatile Worth?

Paul Mashatile is said to be worth between $1 million and $5 million. Even though he has been private about his earnings, business ventures, and investments, the famed political personality reportedly leads a lavish lifestyle, thanks to the benefits he allegedly receives from some politically affiliated businessmen.

In September 2020, it was reported that Paul Mashatile received R371,000 from businessman, Edwin Sodi. When quizzed about the payment, Sodi claimed to have donated the money to ANC. Later in June 2023, News24 reported that Mashatile’s association with business people described as “tenderpreneurs” accounts for his expensive lifestyle.

He was said to be giving access to use the luxury houses owned by the “tenderpreneurs” and beneficiaries of government contracts. Although the publication insinuated that the 62-year-old politician has ownership or permanent use of properties bought by these individuals and companies, he has vehemently denied the allegations.

Controversies that Have Plagued Paul Mashatile’s Political Career

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Having been involved in government affairs for many decades, Paul Mashatile is no stranger to controversies. On multiple occasions, he has made the headlines for the wrong reasons, including the allegations of inappropriate use of government funds and the misconduct of his security personnel. Here are more details.

Alexandra Renewal Project Probing

In April 2019, City of Johannesburg Mayor, Herman Mashaba, claimed that the money appropriated for the Alexandra Renewal Project (ARP), which was meant to change the lives of the residents, was used as a slush fund for the African National Congress. The project was initiated by former president Thabo Mbeki during his State of the Nation Address on February 9th, 2001.

The Mayor claimed that about R16 billion that the national and provincial governments had set aside to address urbanization and housing challenges in the country had been looted. He further added that the ANC members employed to oversee the ARP project directed the funding to ANC-aligned companies which then channeled the money back to the party.

Though it was reported that R1.3 billion was allocated for the redevelopment of Alexandra, Mashatile denied that the money for the project was looted during his tenure as the MEC of Human Settlements. Appearing before the SA Human Rights Commission’s Alex Inquiry committee, he stated that no fixed budget was allocated for the Alexandra Renewal Projects and thus, there was no R1.3 billion pumped into the project.

Assault by Mashatile’s Security Officers

Paul Mashatile was called out by many South Africans after a video where his security officers were seen assaulting a man went viral on July 2nd, 2023. From the video, part of the security team protecting Mashatile was seen dragging a man out of a car and started stomping on his head and body until he lies motionless. However, there were no indications that the Deputy President was present during the incident.

Shortly after the video sparked outrage in the country, Paul Mashatile’s office responded in a statement and said that the Deputy President abhors unnecessary use of force, especially against unarmed civilians. Hence, the case has been handed over to General Fannie Masemola – the National Commissioner of the South African Police Service for proper investigation.

Mashatile also appealed to the public to allow SAPS the needed space to complete an investigation into the incident and equally, take any corrective action deemed fit.