Gunshots fired at South African Deputy President

The South African Police Service (Saps) is investigating a shooting incident which appeared to target Deputy President Paul Mashatile, City Press reports.

Sources with knowledge of the incident said that one of Mashatile’s cars was shot while he was returning home from the ANC national executive committee meeting in Boksburg three weeks ago.

The shooting happened on the N12 highway, with the perpetrators hitting the vehicle in which Mashatile was being transported three times.

Saps and the Presidential Protection Unit have launched a joint investigation into the incident, but questions have been raised as to why the shooting has been kept under wraps for so long.

Mashatile’s spokesperson, Keith Khoza, told City Press that although the incident was concerning, they were confident the police would “uncover this whole thing.”

Khoza would not provide any further information, arguing it might jeopardise the investigation. Saps commissioner Fannie Masemola also declined to comment on the matter.

The motive behind the attack remains unclear, although it should be emphasised that Mashatile’s convoy will typically consist of several vehicles driving in a tight formation.

Therefore, it seems unlikely that the attackers would have been unaware that the convoy was transporting a VIP.

The incident comes after the Sunday World reported about a plot to bring criminal charges against Mashatile.

However, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said the WhatsApp recording the report relied on was fake.

The recording falsely suggested that the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) director in North West and two cabinet ministers had discussed Mashatile’s criminal prosecution.

This was in relation to a real case of perjury against Mashatile opened by disgruntled ANC members.

The complainants allege that Mashatile falsely claimed an ANC NEC meeting took place where a resolution was taken to extend the term of the ANC North West’s interim leadership.

The director and one of the ministers implicated in the WhatsApp recording — Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Mmaloko Kubayi — have condemned it as false.

Kubayi said it was part of a malicious and orchestrated smear campaign intended to create division and pit her against Mashatile.

She also said the recording falsely suggested that neither the minister nor the president had the authority to direct the NPA to prosecute certain people.

Previous roadside attack on minister

The latest incident is also at least the second in recent years wherein a Cabinet member was a victim of a roadside crime.

In November 2023, then transport minister Sindisiwe Chikunga and her bodyguards were robbed at gunpoint on the N3 between Johannesburg and Heidelberg after her vehicle’s tyres were spiked.

Chikunga’s driver pulled over to change the tyre when the armed robbers struck — making off with laptops, a smartphone, and the bodyguards’ firearms.

The incident was considered strange given Chikunga’s security team was armed and spiking incidents are a well-known risk.

Private investigator and security expert Mike Bolhuis criticised the minister’s bodyguards for being caught off guard in the incident.

“Ministers and high-profile people should be protected by the best of the best,” Bolhuis said.

“The moment anything goes wrong with the vehicle, it must be expected that there is a possibility that something sinister is on its way.”

Bolhuis also said there was a need for proper safety and security protocols for government officials and video and audio equipment to collect as much evidence as possible in such incidents.

While the police said a manhunt was launched to track down the perpetrators, there have been no further updates regarding the investigation.