<\/p>\n
Cape Town – ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile was sworn in as one of the party\u2019s new MPs on Monday, taking him one step closer to becoming the country\u2019s second-in-command.<\/p>\n
Mashatile was sworn with Maropene Ramokgopa, Sihle Zikalala and Parks Tau at the office of National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.<\/p>\n
Speaking to the media, he said as new MPs they were in Parliament to implement the manifesto of the ANC.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are joining a team of other comrades, who have already been here so we are to work with them to ensure we serve our people well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will be briefed by the chief whip of the majority party about our responsibilities as MPs and we will serve with dignity and respect whatever task we are given.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mashatile said it was good to be back in Parliament, where he had served before as an MP, arts and culture minister and as a portfolio committee chairperson.<\/p>\n
His election as the ANC\u2019s deputy president at the December conference put him in good stead to deputise President Cyril Ramaphosa in the Cabinet.<\/p>\n
Incumbent David Mabuza announced his resignation at a funeral at the weekend, but Ramaphosa asked him to stay to allow for a smooth transition.<\/p>\n
Mashatile downplayed his impending appointment as the deputy president of the country.<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, that is the prerogative of the president. I don\u2019t know what he is thinking,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am sure he will say something at some point,\u201d he said when asked about becoming the country\u2019s deputy president.<\/p>\n
Asked if he was ready to take up the new role, Mashatile shrugged off the question, saying \u201cleave it there for now\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor now I am happy to serve as an MP,\u201d he said. However, he said Ramaphosa had not briefed the ANC\u2019s Top 7 about a possible Cabinet reshuffle and he did not know when it would take place.<\/p>\n
Asked if he would prefer to be sworn-in as a deputy president of the country before or after the State of the National Address (Sona), Mashatile stuck to his line.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have been sworn in as an MP with my comrades here. We are ready to serve as MPs,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Asked about the future of Mabuza, he said as far as he knew, Mabuza was still the deputy president of the country. \u201cThe last time I saw him, he was the deputy president …\u201d Mashatile said.<\/p>\n
Parliament\u2019s spokesperson Moloto Mothapo told the SABC that no resignation had been received since the four ANC MPs did so last week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t have at this stage a resignation from any MP,\u201d Mothapo said.<\/p>\n
ANC chief whip Pemmy Majodina said that there was nothing written in black and white on the party\u2019s deputy automatically becomes the deputy of the country. \u201cIt is just you media are used to what has been happening … \u201d<\/p>\n
Cape Times<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Cape Town – ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile was sworn in as one of the party\u2019s new MPs on Monday, taking him one step closer to becoming the country\u2019s second-in-command. Mashatile was sworn with Maropene Ramokgopa, Sihle Zikalala and Parks Tau at the office of National Assembly Speaker, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula. Speaking to the media, he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[2475,11867,1121,5019],"class_list":["post-167654","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-politics","tag-anc","tag-mashatile","tag-mps","tag-sworn"],"yoast_head":"\n