Paul Mashatile – Biography, Wife, Children, Net Worth, Other Interesting Facts

Paul Mashatile is a former youth activist now turned politician in South Africa and is the current Treasurer-General of the reigning African National Congress in South Africa. He was formerly a member of the Legislative Executive Council of the Gauteng Province, serving in several capacities before he was made the provisional Chairman of the ANC in the Gauteng province. On October 7, 2008, he was elected as the 4th Premier of the Gauteng province, before he was appointed into the Executive cabinet of President Jacob Zouma as the Minister for Arts and Culture from November 2010 to May 2014.

Biography of Paul Mashatile

Paul Mashatile was Born in Gerhaldsville Pretoria in South Africa on October 21, 1961, but information regarding his family – parents and siblings, is not readily known. He attended the Alexandra High School in the Gauteng province before he devoted his time to activism and politics. He later attended the University of London where he obtained a degree in Economic Principles.

Growing up as a teenager in Apartheid South Africa, he didn’t just stand by while very many people all over the world, and particularly in South Africa, we’re fighting for the end of the Apartheid regime in his country, he also fought against the system as an activist and member of the Congress of South African Students (COSAS). He was also a founding member of the Alexandra Youth Congress (AYC) and was elected as its first president to put an end to Apartheid in his country.

His Wife was Mamzi Ellen Mashatile

Not much information is available about Mashatile’s private life as he probably did this to protect his family and loved ones away from the attention of the media and possibly political “enemies” who may not have very pleasant thoughts towards his loved ones, and information surrounding his private life is not any different from his stance as well.

All we know is that he was married to his wife of very many years, Mamzi Ellen Mashatile, with information about how they met, when they began dating, when and how long they were engaged, when they got married, and other such related information not being readily available to the public. His wife sadly died in the first week of July 2020 after a very prolonged period of sickness.

Her death obviously left a big hole in his heart as he was practically crying during his eulogy at his wife’s funeral service, in which he spoke of her lovingly – thanking her for her love and praying that she will sleep peacefully and rise up into glory.

He Has Two Children

Mashatile’s union with his wife was blessed with two children – a daughter they named Palesa and their son named Thabiso. Though he has tried to shield his children from public scrutiny, both of them were present at their mother’s funeral where they paid their last respects to her, thanking her for her love, commitment and sacrifice for them over the years.

His Net Worth Speculates He Is Doing Well

Mashatile has been an activist and politician most of his adult life and as is with most “practising politicians”, it is almost very difficult, if not outright impossible, to ascertain their true net worth and value. He has held very prominent positions in South Africa’s ruling party over the years and would have probably made friends in high places, which may have given him the opportunity to make money outside of his paycheck as a politician and cabinet member.

Unofficial sources put his net worth at a ballpark figure of between $ 1 million to $ 5 million (that is between 14 million to 73 million Rand. Whether this is a true reflection of his net worth or not cannot be verified officially, it can only probably be a speculative figure at best, that is subject to debate based on where you are viewing it from.

Fun Facts About Paul Mashatile

Early Political involvement

Having done his bit as an activist fighting against Apartheid, he joined the United Democratic Front (UDF) and was appointed as the Secretary-General of the movement as young as 23 and held several other positions there. After the ban on political activities was lifted in 1990 and the consequent dissolution of the UDF, he aligned himself with emerging political parties like the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP) to help establish the party structures and grassroots enlistment and he was rewarded with deserving positions by both parties.

Assassination Attempt and Detention

Due to his activities as an activist against the Apartheid regime, an assassination attempt was made on his life (supposedly by the government) and he was also detained without trial by the government for 4 year beginning from 1985. He undertook an 18-day hunger strike as part of his own protest against the high handedness of the government.

He Lost the 2 most important women in his life just a few days apart

2020 was a year of mixed feelings for very many people around the world and the Mashatile household suffered their own tragedy apart from the global Covid-19 pandemic currently ravaging the whole world. First, he lost his ever-supportive mother in June and while he was still mourning her, his darling wife – who had even battled a prolonged illness also died a few days after his mother. He was teary-eyed while bidding his wife farewell at her funeral service.

Complete profile of Paul Mashatile