By: Thami Ka Plaatjie
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” These famous opening lines in Jane Austin’s classical book titled: “Pride and Prejudice” rang true for Paul Mashatile, the now deputy president of the ANC and the country.
The assumption of high office is laden with thrills, frills and agonising decisions. This move was apt and elating. The news of his betrothal was received with great excitement as it became a welcome respite at a time of gloomy national news. The bouquet of dissent that had been strewn in the public space gave rise to new excitement with the latest development.
Paul Mashatile was possibly and proverbially hijacked on his way to joining the Tibetan monastery. His solitary life came to an abrupt end and his prolonged mourning for his dear departed wife also came to a close. A new chapter beaconed as Cupid’s arrow found resonance and reciprocation.
Mashatile had to consolidate the homeground before any serious forays into the political arena. Compliance with African tradition and norms by paying lobola bespoke volumes for him and his corte of entourage. The entourage was manageable and the venue of the elevated occasion was not packed to suffocation.
The blindingly beautiful would-be wife warmed our hearts while adorning a fragile, but radiant smile like a coy Xhosa maiden. The couple resembled a picture of perfect delight with the wife-to-be looking bright like a flamed coloured African sunset.
Much as there was some consternation in some quarters that he married a former wife of his friend, the occasion proceeded with no qualms or hindrance. Such criticism is misplaced as it is unpalatable. What more can be said when two adults who have each lost their respective partners, found resonance with one another and were given a stamp of approval by their respective families?
What more can stand in the way of such matrimonial bliss and the prospects of a new chapter for the couple and their children.? We have been warned elsewhere by William Shakespeare: “let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments.”
African culture is replete with examples of such forms of marriages and some are arranged and others are part of ukungena. Ukungena occurs when an elder brother passes away and the younger brother is asked to take his wife as his own. This union was neither of the two and emanated from two consciously consenting adults
Critiques were straining every nerve and muscle just like in a futile contest between spears against cannons. When the bride-to-be appeared for a photo session with select esteem guests, she wore no garlands and displayed an ebullient and captivating smile. She rose to the occasion befitting a future First Lady.
Mashatile‘s assumption of the deputy president position has come at a time when our nation seeks the elusive hope and normative assurance that all will be fine. He is saddled with great responsibility and must have focused attention to the task ahead. Stabilising and consolidating the home-front is a critical sine qua non to scale great national heights. In my village, no unmarried man can address the audience in a kraal let alone rule a nation.
Now that matters homely have been put to rest, we now await with bated breath for his stamp of authority on his new position as deputy president of the Republic. Unlike the erstwhile David “DD” Mabuza whose term of office was marked by seclusion, hibernation and prolonged spells of silence, it is expected that Mashatile will play a more active role in the affairs of the state and the nation.
Handling both positions in the ANC and government will be the greatest test ever in his political career. Handling two positions in the province sometime ago does not compare to this new assignment. He must be presidential and balance contrasting and contradictory pole positions most of the time. But of critical importance is that he must lead without fear and be decisive.
He must not walk in the shadows like his predecessor but must craft his own views, assert his own authority and command his own set of ideas. He has a lot of goodwill but must harness it judiciously.
*Thami ka Plaatjie is Director of Pan African Foundation.
