DEPUTY President Paul Mashatile’s life is at risk.
This follows the recent shooting incident two weeks ago after returning from the ANC’s NEC meeting in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, with his convoy.
This is very disturbing as questions doing rounds is whether he’s been targeted as ANC’s national elections in 2027 are coming or it’s an isolated incident, and why the public was only made aware of the incident now?
After back and forth this week, Police finally released a report indicating an investigation reveal that Mashatile’s vehicle was struck by gunfire three times, on Tuesday evening.
As a result, the Police have confirmed that a high-level investigative team has been assigned to look into the recent shooting.
Over the weekend, Mashatile told reporters, he initially believed stones were hitting the car, but his team later informed him that bullets had hit the vehicle, also indicating ‘I feel safe’ after an attempt on his life.
Initially, Mashatile’s spokesperson Keith Khoza directed all media concerns to the Police.
Police spokesperson Brig Athlenda Mathe said while it is not common practice to discuss safety and security aspects of the executive, the national commissioner, Gen Fannie Masemola, deemed it fit to assure the country that sufficient resources are always assigned to safeguard members of the national executive.
“After the incident, an extensive investigation was conducted and still [is] under way, with the ballistics report already concluded. Crime Intelligence is also continuing with its regular risk and threat assessment on both the president and the deputy president.
“The incident remains under investigation with a high-level team assigned to investigate this case,” Mathe said.
She said members of the Presidential Protection Service who are assigned to both President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mashatile 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 to their lives.”
Whether staged or not Mashatile’s life as Deputy President of the country is worrying and this should not be taken lightly. What’s next, one may ask?
The ANC said it will comment after perusing the investigation report, while EFF has sent message of support to DP.
Image (Deputy President Paul Mashatile. A high level investigation of Police experts to delve into the shooting incident).
