His ambitious deputy Paul Mashatile has argued that the DA cannot remain in a government whose budget it opposes...

But the ANC faction opposing the GNU led by Deputy President Paul Mashatile has grown increasingly vocal...

Deputy President Paul Mashatile criticised Democratic Alliance (DA) ministers who opposed the budget saying they should be ‘ashamed' to remain in office while African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula called for a ‘reset'...

' Nel also knows two of the ANC presidential hopefuls Paul Mashatile and Fikile Mbalula...

Instead the cabinet meeting was chaired by deputy president Paul Mashatile who is far less enthusiastic about the GNU than Ramaphosa and may have sided with opponents of the VAT hikes...

Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Mbalula are front-runners for the top spot in 2027 when the ANC holds its elective conference...

Having been out of the country for the past decade some believe she may be Ramaphosa's third-way choice to avoid a succession favouring Deputy President Paul Mashatile or ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula...

Key to such campaigns is Deputy President Paul Mashatile and his presidential ambitions...

‘Cyril [Ramaphosa] cannot stand again so despite [Deputy President] Paul Mashatile being there the field will be wide open and people will wait for the outcome before they stay or leave the ANC ' the insider added...

The former Minister of Transport and contender for deputy president at the ANC's 2022 elective conference where he lost to Deputy President Paul Mashatile now becomes one of the most senior Ramaphosa allies in the GNU...

The second faction are those who see Deputy President Paul Mashatile as the next leader but are biding their time...

Ramaphosa will have to struggle to keep a grip on the party machinery and will need to hug Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Mines and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe who is also Chairman of the ANC extremely closely...

And Mbalula and Deputy President Paul Mashatile will be lining up to replace him along with party Chairman Gwede Mantashe who is seen as more sceptical about the coalition...