Mashatile not concerned about future

Paul Mashatile. File photo: INLSA

Paul Mashatile. File photo: INLSA

Published Dec 18, 2012

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Bloemfontein - Gauteng ANC chairman Paul Mashatile said he was not concerned that the province's campaign to replace President Jacob Zuma would negatively impact on his future in the party.

“It is not that our campaign went wrong. The delegates decided, and we can't take away their rights to do so,” he said on the sidelines of the conference.

Zuma was re-elected as ANC president on Tuesday.

Mashatile unsuccessfully ran for the position of treasurer-general, and the majority of Gauteng delegates had pushed for deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe to take over from Zuma.

Mashatile holds office as the minister of arts and culture.

“If the president decides to deploy me or not to deploy me, that is his choice,” Mashatile said.

“The new leadership will not see it (the campaign) in such a way, where they will make decisions based on it.”

During the nomination process, when election officials asked if anyone wanted to withdraw their candidature for treasurer-general, Mashatile got up and was about to speak, but sat down after Tokyo Sexwale announced his withdrawal.

“I was going to ask if comrade Tokyo was going to withdraw, because he had accepted (a nomination) for deputy president, but he did so before I could ask,” Mashatile said.

He said both of them had received the same support from delegates. - Sapa

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