Phakama Mashatile": ANC Deputy President’s Rallying Cry Echoes Through Kimberley, Hinting at Presidential Aspirations

Mpho Dube
4 hours ago
2 min read

Deputy President Paul Mashatile

By Mpho Dube-Editor in Chief

In a powerful display of support, delegates at the ANC Youth League's (ANCYL) second National General Council (NGC) in Kimberley, Northern Cape, sang “phakama Mashatile, ixesha lifikile” (“rise Mashatile, the time has come”) before Paul Mashatile, the ANC Deputy President, took the stage.

This poignant moment hinted at his growing influence and potential presidential ambitions ahead of the ANC's 2027 national conference.

Addressing the gathering at the Mittah Seperepere Convention Centre, Mashatile delivered a stark warning: “Comrades delegates, we must consider that this second National General Council is being held in the aftermath of the 2024 general elections… we must mobilise the youth or perish”.

He spoke against the backdrop of the ANC's strategic setback in May 2024, where the party secured 40% electoral support – the first time since 1994 it failed to achieve a majority.

Mashatile underscored alarming trends in voter registration and turnout. The gap between eligible voters and registered voters ballooned to 12 million by 2024, with turnout dropping to 58.6% that year.

Provinces like North West, Limpopo, and Eastern Cape recorded the lowest participation. A Mapungubwe Institute for Strategic Reflection (MISTRA) study revealed younger cohorts remain underrepresented in electoral engagement due to poor political engagement, including lack of participation in civic activities and voting. “The study suggests that the reasons for youth underrepresentation are due to poor political engagement by young people, including their lack of participation in civic organisations or activities, even voting,” he said.

Mashatile specifically called on ANCYL president Collen Malatji to mobilise young people in support of the ANC ahead of the 2026 local government elections, emphasizing the urgency of youthful engagement for the party's revival.

Citing Ipsos polling data, Mashatile noted eight in 10 South Africans believe the country is heading in the wrong direction. “This means there is a greater need for us to restore confidence - not just through speeches, but through action,” he stressed. He highlighted economic stagnation failing to generate jobs for youth, emphasizing Operation Vulindlela as a key economic reform initiative focusing on modernizing industries like electricity, water, transport, and digital communications.

Mashatile emphasized fixing municipalities for better service delivery. “So we must fix these municipalities, including ensuring that those people who were appointed who are incompetent must be removed. Whether they are councillors of the ANC or officials, if they are incompetent, they must go,” he asserted. Many ANC-led municipalities struggle with basic service delivery and financial sustainability.

Mashatile’s remarks come amid growing frustration within the ANC over corruption, internal factionalism, and service delivery failures. Political analyst Professor Siphe Seepe suggests the ANC is in "panic mode" ahead of 2026 local government elections.

A veteran of South Africa’s liberation struggle, Mashatile was a student activist, co-founder of the Alexandra Youth Congress, and detained without trial from 1985-1989. He’s held various roles, including Gauteng Premier and Minister of Arts and Culture, showcasing his extensive experience in government and the ANC. His activism traces back to roles in the Congress of South African Students and re-establishing the ANC and SACP post-1990 unbanning.