{"id":255309,"date":"2023-03-28T20:03:44","date_gmt":"2023-03-28T18:03:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/paul-mashatile-south-africas-new-deputy-president-has-a-critical-task-to-bring-back-a-sense-of-stability\/"},"modified":"2023-03-28T20:03:44","modified_gmt":"2023-03-28T18:03:44","slug":"paul-mashatile-south-africas-new-deputy-president-has-a-critical-task-to-bring-back-a-sense-of-stability","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/paul-mashatile-south-africas-new-deputy-president-has-a-critical-task-to-bring-back-a-sense-of-stability\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Mashatile, South Africa’s new deputy president, has a critical task: to bring back a sense of stability"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In a recent cabinet reshuffle<\/a> President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Paul Mashatile, the deputy president of South Africa\u2019s governing party, the African National Congress (ANC), as the country\u2019s deputy president. The tradition in the ANC since democracy in 1994 has been for its elected deputy president to ascend first to the deputy presidency of the country, and eventually to become head of state. So Mashatile, an experienced politician<\/a>, may also be destined for top office.<\/p>\n

Ramaphosa\u2019s cabinet reshuffle took place in a climate of growing restlessness<\/a> across the nation about the many failures of the state, high levels of corruption and organised crime<\/a>. <\/p>\n

As a political scientist and researcher on security governance matters, I have been considering the role Mashatile could play in responding to the security crisis. <\/p>\n

He will serve on two cabinet structures that are crucial to safety and security in the country. Through this he could contribute to rebuilding trust<\/a> that the public has lost in the law enforcement and criminal justice system. <\/p>\n

Justice, crime prevention and security<\/h2>\n

One of Mashatile\u2019s tasks<\/a> is to chair the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security<\/a> cabinet committee. This committee coordinates the work of the ministers who are collectively charged with ensuring safety and stability in the country. During the devastating July 2021 unrest<\/a>, the ministers contradicted each other. They also failed to show a united front against the violence that engulfed several provinces, particularly KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.<\/p>\n

With deft leadership, Mashatile can assist Ramaphosa to address the legacy of poorly coordinated security services. The former minister in the presidency, Mondli Gungubele<\/a>, acknowledged this problem on the anniversary of the deadly July 2021 riots. <\/p>\n

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Read more: South Africa has a new deputy president in Paul Mashatile: what he brings to the table<\/a> <\/strong> <\/em>\n<\/p>\n

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The Justice, Crime Prevention and Security cluster was among several cabinet \u201cclusters\u201d established during former president Thabo Mbeki\u2019s tenure. This has cemented a tradition of intergovernmental cooperation ever since. It oversees the work of the following core ministries and departments:<\/p>\n