Phumulo Masualle

Masualle was born on 12 December 1965{{cite magazine |date=11 June 1999 |title=General Notice: Notice 1319 of 1999 – Electoral Commission: Representatives Elected to the Various Legislatures |url=https://gazettes.africa/archive/za/1999/za-government-gazette-dated-1999-06-11-no-20203.pdf |magazine=Government Gazette of South Africa |location=Pretoria, South Africa |publisher=Government of South Africa |volume=408 |issue=20203 |pages= |access-date=26 March 2021}} in Mount Fletcher in the former Cape Province.{{cite web |title=Premier Phumulo Masualle Profile |url=http://www.ecprov.gov.za/AboutUs/Pages/Premier-Phumulo-Masualle.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503091920/http://www.ecprov.gov.za/AboutUs/Pages/Premier-Phumulo-Masualle.aspx |archive-date=3 May 2015 |access-date=23 July 2023 |website=Province of the Eastern Cape}} He grew up in Mount Frere and later in Mthatha, where he matriculated at St John's College.{{Cite web |title=Phumulo Godfrey Masualle, Mr |url=https://www.gov.za/about-government/contact-directory/phumulo-godfrey-masualle-mr |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=South African Government}} He has tertiary diplomas in electrical engineering and economic principles.

During the 1980s, Masualle became politically active through the students' wing of the anti-apartheid movement, particularly in the South African National Student Congress.{{Cite web |title=Phumulo Masualle, Mr |url=https://www.gov.za/about-government/contact-directory/phumulo-masualle-mr |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=South African Government}} He was later involved in the trade union movement through the Transkei Post Office Workers Association, a Transkei-based union. According to Masualle, his "political idol" was James Kati, an Umkhonto we Sizwe activist in the Transkei.{{Cite web |title=Mr Godfrey Phumulo Masualle |url=https://www.parliament.gov.za/person-details/194 |access-date=23 July 2023 |website=Parliament of South Africa}}

After the end of apartheid in 1994, he joined the public service in the provincial government of the Eastern Cape, where he served in various capacities until 1999. During the same period, he rose through the ranks of the African National Congress (ANC) and of the South African Communist Party (SACP), the ANC's partner in the Tripartite Alliance.

In the 1999 general election, Masualle was elected to an ANC seat in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature, where he served until 2019. In addition, Premier Makhenkesi Stofile appointed him to the Eastern Cape Executive Council as Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Roads and Public Works.

During this period, Masualle's left-wing political orientation brought him some political heat. He was a senior leader of the SACP in the province, first as provincial secretary and later as provincial chairperson, during a time in which President Thabo Mbeki was highly wary of the left wing of the Tripartite Alliance. In July 2002, while Masualle was attending a regional ANC meeting in his capacity as a member of the ANC Provincial Executive Committee, party members in the Transkei objected to his presence, accusing him of "pushing a communist agenda within the ANC, and by this dividing the region".{{Cite web |date=2002-07-25 |title=Faction fighting pulls Transkei ANC apart |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2002-07-26-faction-fighting-pulls-transkei-anc-apart/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

In November 2002, the Mail & Guardian reported that the national ANC had ordered Premier Stofile to sack Masualle and another SACP member, Ncumisa Kondlo, from the provincial government. According to the newspaper, Masualle and Kondlo had been identified as "anti-Mbeki conspirators", members of a group of leftists within the party who were suspected of planning to challenge Mbeki at the ANC's upcoming elective conference.{{Cite web |date=2002-11-21 |title=Behind the ANC’s crackdown in E-Cape |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2002-11-22-behind-the-ancs-crackdown-in-ecape/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} The Mail & Guardian also said that Masualle and Kondlo had refused to resign.{{Cite web |date=2002 |title=Stofile must go, says UDM |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2002-01-01-stofile-must-go-says-udm/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} On 25 November, Stofile addressed the provincial legislature in Bhisho and fiercely denied that he was going to effect the dismissals.{{Cite news |date=29 November 2002 |title=Left-wing MECs in E Cape praised, then sacked |work=IOL |url=https://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/left-wing-mecs-in-e-cape-praised-then-sacked-97841 |access-date=23 July 2023}}{{Cite web |date=2002 |title=Stofile resists firing MECs |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2002-12-02-stofile-resists-firing-mecs/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} However, three days later, on 28 November, he announced that Masualle and Kondlo had been sacked from the Executive Council.{{Cite web |date=28 November 2002 |title=MEC sacking 'a govt matter' |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/mec-sacking-a-govt-matter-20021128 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}

After his dismissal from the Executive Council, Masualle served as an ordinary Member of the Provincial Legislature for six years, through the rest of Stofile's premiership and throughout the term of Stofile's successor, Premier Nosimo Balindlela. During this period, he served in several different committees in the provincial legislature, including the standing committee on public accounts. He also continued his rise through the ANC and SACP.

At the Eastern Cape ANC's elective conference in April 2003, Masualle launched an abortive bid to succeed Stone Sizani as ANC deputy provincial chairperson. In a crowded field of contestants, he lost to Enoch Godongwana, who received 177 votes; Masualle received 125, while Mandisi Mpahlwa received 98 and Thobile Mhlahlo received 83.{{Cite web |date=26 April 2003 |title=Stofile re-elected by wide margin |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/stofile-re-elected-by-wide-margin-20030426 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}

At the next provincial elective conference, held at Fort Hare University in December 2006 and even more hotly contested, he pursued another unsuccessful campaign, this time standing to succeed the long-serving ANC provincial secretary, Humphrey Maxegwana. Because of the size and influence of the Eastern Cape party branch, the race attracted national attention; Masualle's candidacy was supported by Jacob Zuma and Zuma's left-wing supporters, who at the same time were preparing to challenge Mbeki for the national ANC presidency.{{Cite web |date=2006-11-24 |title=A fight to crown a king |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2006-11-24-a-fight-to-crown-king/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} He was also supported by the ANC's second-largest regional branch, the branch in the O. R. Tambo District.{{Cite web |date=2006-12-01 |title=ANC membership doubles ahead of Eastern Cape conference |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2006-12-01-anc-membership-doubles-ahead-of-eastern-cape-conference/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} After Mbulelo Goniwe dropped out of the race, Masualle stood against Siphato Handi, who won the election.{{Cite web |date=2006-12-08 |title=‘Patronage cost the left’ |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2006-12-08-patronage-cost-the-left/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Indeed, Zuma's favoured candidates lost all the top leadership positions, with Stone Sizani defeating Mcebisi Jonas for the provincial chairmanship.

By 2007, Masualle, then the provincial chairperson of the SACP's Eastern Cape branch,{{Cite web |date=2007-07-12 |title=SACP goes back to the people |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-07-13-sacp-goes-back-to-the-people/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} was viewed as a member of the "inner circle" of SACP national general secretary Blade Nzimande.{{Cite web |date=2007-07-12 |title=Red Blade’s bourgeois life |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-07-13-red-blades-bourgeois-life/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} At the party's 12th national congress, held in Port Elizabeth in July 2007, Masualle was elected to a five-year term as the SACP's national treasurer, succeeding Phillip Dexter.{{Cite web |date=16 July 2007 |title=SACP sidelines Mbeki loyalists |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/news/2007-07-16-sacp-sidelines-mbeki-loyalists/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}} Although Mazibuko Jara had been expected to contest the election,{{Cite web |date=2007-07-05 |title=Challenge to Blade? |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-07-06-challenge-to-blade/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Masualle was elected unopposed.{{Cite web |date=2007-07-15 |title=Cabinet ministers up for SACP committee |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-07-15-cabinet-ministers-up-for-sacp-committee/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} One of his first tasks as treasurer was leading an internal investigation into Willie Madisha in connection with a missing donation to the party.{{Cite web |date=2007-08-21 |title=Madisha, SACP to meet over missing money |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-08-21-madisha-sacp-to-meet-over-missing-money/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=2007-09-19 |title=SACP accused of ‘witch-hunt’ against Madisha |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-09-20-sacp-accused-of-witch-hunt-against-madisha/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

In December 2007, Masualle attended the ANC's 52nd National Conference in Polokwane, where Zuma was elected to succeed Mbeki as ANC president. At the conference, Masualle was elected to a five-year term as a member of the ANC National Executive Committee, with the backing of the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU), the third wing of the Tripartite Alliance.{{Cite web |date=2007-10-25 |title=Cosatu’s wish list |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-10-26-cosatus-wish-list/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Of the 80 ordinary members elected to the committee, he was the 69th-most popular, receiving 1,484 votes.{{Cite web |date=2007-12-20 |title=Shake-up in ANC national executive |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2007-12-20-shakeup-in-anc-national-executive/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

In July 2008, as Premier Balindlela became increasingly politically embattled, Masualle was touted – particularly by the SACP and COSATU – as a possible successor in her office as Premier of the Eastern Cape.{{Cite web |date=2008-07-16 |title=‘No one in the ANC is permanent’ |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-07-16-no-one-in-the-anc-is-permanent/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=2008-07-18 |title=Waiting in the wings |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-07-18-waiting-in-the-wings/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} However, one of Balindlela's provincial ministers, Mbulelo Sogoni, was elected instead. Masualle was returned to the Executive Council in Sogoni's former office as MEC for Economic Development, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, reportedly as part of a "compromise" between Zuma's camp and Sogoni's camp.{{Cite web |date=2008-08-01 |title=Mbeki set to hold E Cape |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-08-02-mbeki-set-to-hold-e-cape/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

In the run-up to the April 2009 general election, COSATU and the SACP again lobbied for Masualle to become the ANC's candidate for Premier of the Eastern Cape.{{Cite web |date=2008-11-28 |title=ANC’s premier A-list |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2008-11-28-ancs-premier-alist/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=2009-05-10 |title=Governing against the tide |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2009-05-10-governing-against-the-tide/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} However, Noxolo Kiviet was elected instead, and she retained Masualle in the Executive Council, now as MEC for Health.{{Cite web |date=18 May 2009 |title=Full list of provincial cabinet members |url=https://www.politicsweb.co.za/documents/full-list-of-provincial-cabinet-members |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Politicsweb}} Masualle's transfer to the health portfolio was viewed as a demotion.{{Cite web |date=2009-08-21 |title=Knives out in Eastern Cape ANC |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2009-08-21-knives-out-in-eastern-cape-anc/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

Months after the election, in September 2009, Masualle was elected as ANC provincial chairperson at a party conference in East London. He had been viewed as an "underdog" in the contest, with Mcebisi Jonas – running on an anti-communist platform{{Cite web |date=2009-09-19 |title=Masualle is not ‘seeking revenge’ |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2009-09-19-masualle-is-not-seeking-revenge/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} – the presumed frontrunner.{{Cite web |date=10 September 2009 |title=Masualle, Jonas in face-off for top provincial ANC post |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/masualle-jonas-in-face-off-for-top-provincial-anc-post-20150429 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} However, the vote was apparently swayed by Masualle's decision to select Gugile Nkwinti, a minister and party chairperson in Cacadu, as his running mate. He was elected, with Nkwinti as his deputy and Oscar Mabuyane as provincial secretary.{{Cite web |date=2009-09-14 |title=ANC wrestles with funding at Eastern Cape conference |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2009-09-14-anc-wrestles-with-funding-at-eastern-cape-conference/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

In the aftermath of the conference, the SACP said that Masualle would likely ask Kiviet to reshuffle the government to ensure that key positions were aligned to the ANC's new leadership. Indeed, his election apparently "sparked anxiety among ANC moderates about the growing power of SACP members in the ruling party", causing tensions that spilled over to the national level after Billy Masetlha warned in the press that the SACP and COSATU should not attempt to impose their ideology on ANC administrations.{{Cite web |date=2009-10-16 |title=ANC’s civil war with the left hots up |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2009-10-16-ancs-civil-war-with-the-left-hots-up/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

On 27 November 2010, Premier Kiviet announced a major cabinet reshuffle. Masualle was appointed to an approximation of the portfolio he had held in Sogoni's government, though the position was now renamed and restructured as MEC for Provincial Planning and Finance.{{Cite web |date=27 November 2010 |title=10 new ministries for E Cape |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/10-new-ministries-for-e-cape-20101127 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=27 November 2010 |title=Eastern Cape Provincial Government and Cabinet composition |url=https://www.gov.za/eastern-cape-provincial-government-and-cabinet-composition |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=South African Government}} He remained in this position until the 2014 general election, and during the same period, he was leader of government business in the provincial legislature.

Masualle's term as SACP treasurer expired in July 2012 and he did not accept nomination to stand for re-election, citing his obligations in the ANC.{{Cite web |date=15 July 2012 |title=Young Communist’s all grown up |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/archives/city-press/young-communists-all-grown-up-20150430 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} Joyce Moloi-Moropa was elected to succeed him as treasurer, while was elected as an ordinary member of the SACP Central Committee; by popularity, he was the second-ranked ordinary member, behind outgoing chairperson Gwede Mantashe.{{Cite web |date=2012-07-16 |title=SACP drops radical stance in boost for Zuma |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2012-07-16-24-sacp-drops-radical-stance-in-boost-for-zuma/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Masualle also did not stand for election to the ANC National Executive Committee at the party's 53rd National Conference in December 2012,{{Cite web |date=19 December 2012 |title=53rd National Conference: ANC National Executive Committee Final Nominations List |url=https://www.anc1912.org.za/53rd-national-conference-anc-national-executive-committee-final-nominations-list/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=African National Congress |language=en-US}} because his provincial chairmanship qualified him as an ex officio member of the committee. He was re-elected unopposed to a second term as ANC provincial chairperson at the party's seventh provincial congress, held at Nelson Mandela University in June 2013; Sakhumzi Somyo was elected to succeed Nkwinti as his deputy.{{Cite web |date=2013-07-04 |title=Spotted: ANC’s quiet Eastern Cape conference |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2013-07-04-spotted-ancs-quiet-eastern-cape-conference/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

After the May 2014 general election, the ANC announced that it would nominate Masualle to succeed Kiviet as Eastern Cape Premier.{{cite news |date=20 May 2014 |title=ANC names new premiers |work=News24 |publisher= |url=http://www.news24.com/elections/news/anc-names-new-premiers-20140520 |url-status=dead |access-date=6 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161220122050/http://www.news24.com/elections/news/anc-names-new-premiers-20140520 |archive-date=20 December 2016}} He was sworn in on 21 May.{{Cite web |date=2014-05-21 |title=E-Cape, Mpumalanga Premiers sworn in |url=https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/e-cape-mpumalanga-premiers-sworn |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=South African Government News Agency |language=en}} In his maiden State of the Province Address in Bhisho in June, Masualle outlined seven strategic priorities for his administration, including "radical socioeconomic transformation", rural development, and food security.{{Cite web |date=27 June 2014 |title=Phumulo Masualle announces bold plans for Eastern Cape |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/phumulo-masualle-announces-bold-plans-for-eastern-cape-20150429 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} He said that he would pursue rapid industrialisation in the Eastern Cape, particularly through integration with the mining industry and by exploiting South Africa's diversification into nuclear power and shale gas. Infrastructural priorities included the completion of the Mthatha Airport terminal building by March 2015.

A major scandal of Masualle's tenure concerned the alleged misuse of public funds set aside for Nelson Mandela's funeral, held in 2013 while Masualle was finance MEC. R250,000 of the funeral funds had been deposited into Masualle's personal bank account. Masualle said that a department official had deposited the money into his account, and that he had instructed the department to reverse the transaction immediately upon learning of it.{{Cite web |date=2014-07-17 |title=Hawks act on Madiba funeral graft |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2014-07-17-hawks-act-on-madiba-funeral-graft/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |last=Ngcukana |first=Lubabalo |date=5 December 2017 |title=Mandela funeral scandal: Masualle insists all money is accounted for |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/mandela-funeral-scandal-masualle-insists-all-money-is-accounted-for-20171205 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=City Press |language=en-US}} However, Athol Trollip of the opposition Democratic Alliance said that he would continue to press for investigations into Masualle's conduct.{{Cite web |date=17 July 2014 |title=Mandela funeral scandal: Premier Masualle has something to hide, says DA |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/mandela-funeral-scandal-premier-masualle-has-something-to-hide-says-da-20150429 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}

Masualle stood for a third term as ANC provincial chairperson at the party's next elective conference in October 2017, but he was challenged by the outgoing provincial secretary, Oscar Mabuyane.{{Cite web |last=Plessis |first=Carien du |date=2017-09-29 |title=ANC Leadership Race: Battleground Eastern Cape |url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2017-09-29-anc-leadership-race-battleground-eastern-cape/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=Daily Maverick |language=en}} When the provincial conference opened in October 2017, a plenary session devolved into violence in which several people were injured by flying chairs; the conference subsequently became popularly known as the "festival of chairs".{{Cite web |date=1 October 2017 |title=It was a 'festival of chairs' - Ramaphosa on violent ANC elective conference |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/it-was-a-festival-of-chairs-ramaphosa-on-violent-anc-elective-conference-20171001 |access-date=2022-12-02 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} After the brawl, only 55% of the delegates remained in the hall, most of them supporters of Mabuyane, and Masualle was not available to formally accept or decline his nomination in the election. Masualle thus received only seven votes, against Mabuyane's 931; Mabuyane won the chairmanship and his supporters took most of the seats on the Provincial Executive Committee.{{Cite web |date=2017-10-01 |title=Oscar Mabuyane elected chair as a challenge to #ANCECConference looms |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-10-01-mabuyane-elected-chair-as-court-challenge-to-ancecconference-looms/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

In subsequent months, Masualle's supporters disputed the election result, but the ANC National Executive Committee rejected a recommendation – the outcome of an internal inquiry by S'bu Ndebele – to re-run the election. Instead, the party opted for a "political solution" that would build "unity" in the provincial party.{{Cite web |date=2018-06-25 |title=ANC Eastern Cape members lose urgent bid to nullify 'festival of chairs' outcome |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-06-25-anc-eastern-cape-members-lose-urgent-bid-to-nullify-festival-of-chairs-outcome/ |access-date=2022-12-01 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} In June 2018, the Johannesburg High Court dismissed an attempt by Masualle's supporters to have the election outcomes declared invalid.

Despite his defeat in the provincial ANC, and despite reports that Zuma supporters were likely to lose popularity in the SACP,{{Cite web |date=2017-06-09 |title=SACP rounds on its leaders who back Zuma |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-06-09-00-sacp-rounds-on-its-leaders-who-back-zuma/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Masualle was re-elected to the SACP Central Committee in July 2017.{{Cite web |title=Previous Central Committee Members |url=https://sacp.org.za/content/previous-central-committee-members |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=South African Communist Party (SACP)}} In December 2017, at the ANC's 54th National Conference at Nasrec, Masualle was viewed as a backer of losing presidential candidate Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, though the Mail & Guardian said that he was also "comfortable" with Zweli Mkhize's presidential bid.{{Cite web |date=2017-09-08 |title=Mkhize works at being No 1 |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-09-08-00-mkhize-works-at-being-no-1/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Masualle later said that he did not see himself aligned to any single leader, arguing, "I really exercise my own mind to what I see, take a view and when I've taken that view, I really go for it".{{Cite web |date=2022-10-07 |title=Phumulo Masualle not bowed by PEC rebuff |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2022-10-07-phumulo-masualle-not-bowed-by-pec-rebuff/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

He was considered to be a possible candidate to stand for the deputy secretary-general position on Dlamini-Zuma's slate.{{Cite web |last=Stone |first=Setumo |date=15 October 2017 |title=I’m not anybody’s plan B – Zweli Mkhize |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/im-not-anybodys-plan-b-zweli-mkhize-20171015 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=City Press |language=en-US}} Instead, he was re-elected as an ordinary member of the National Executive Committee, ranked 54th by popularity.{{Cite web |date=2018-02-25 |title=Ace Magashule unfazed by Senzo Mchunu appointment |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-02-25-ace-magashule-unfazed-by-senzo-mchunu-appointment/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} He was appointed to chair the subcommittee on legislature and governance.

In the aftermath of Masualle's exit from the ANC provincial chairmanship, he came under increasing pressure from the newly elected party leadership, which mounted after Masualle's 2018 State of the Province Address. In the aftermath of the speech, the Mabuyane-led Provincial Executive Committee apparently approached the National Executive Committee with a recommendation to remove Masualle as Premier and replace him with Mabuyane.{{Cite web |date=2018-03-01 |title=Embattled Eastern Cape premier is safe – for now |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-03-01-embattled-eastern-cape-premier-is-safe-for-now/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Zuma's supporters argued that this campaign was one example of a broader purge being pursued by supporters of newly elected President Cyril Ramaphosa.{{Cite web |date=2018-04-20 |title=We’re being purged, say JZ’s people |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-04-20-00-were-being-purged-say-jzs-people/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Masualle told City Press that he was prepared to step down, but only on the instructions of the national party, not the provincial party. In the same interview, he expressed pride in his administration's economic, infrastructural, and agricultural accomplishments; asked to grade his performance out of 10, he said he would give himself "Anything above seven".{{Cite web |last=Ngcukana |first=Lubabalo |date=25 February 2018 |title=‘Only the NEC can fire me’ – Eastern Cape premier |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/only-the-nec-can-fire-me-eastern-cape-premier-20180225 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}

Although its recommendation to remove Masualle was rejected, the Provincial Executive Committee continued to press for changes in Masualle's Executive Council – in particular for the dismissal of Sakhumzi Somyo, Mlibo Qoboshiyane, Thandiswa Marawu, and Nancy Sihlwayi – and threatened to pass a motion of no confidence of Masualle in the legislature if he did not comply.{{Cite web |date=9 May 2018 |title=Masualle faced tough choice – fire four MECs or be recalled |url=https://www.heraldlive.co.za/news/politics/2018-05-09-masualle-faced-tough-choice--fire-four-mecs-or-be-recalled/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Herald |language=en-ZA}} In May 2018, following a meeting at Luthuli House between Masualle, the provincial party, and ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule, Masualle reportedly agreed to effect the reshuffle in exchange for being allowed to complete his term as Premier.{{Cite web |date=2018-05-10 |title=Masualle to reshuffle Eastern Cape PEC but tensions remain |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-05-10-masualle-to-reshuffle-eastern-cape-pec-but-tensions-remain/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} He announced the reshuffle later the same week, with a spokesperson saying that the changes followed from the "new political discourse" in the province and would allow "for a smooth transition" ahead of the May 2019 general election.{{Cite web |last=Bornman |first=Jan |date=10 May 2018 |title=Eastern Cape premier appoints new PEC |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/eastern-cape-premier-appoints-new-pec-20180510 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}

Masualle subsequently began to prepare for the expiry of his term in the Premier's office.{{Cite web |last=Ngcukana |first=Lubabalo |date=16 September 2018 |title=Eastern Cape Premier Masualle’s hopes and regrets |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/eastern-cape-premier-masualles-hopes-and-regrets-20180916 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}} After delivering his final State of the Province Address in February 2019, he said that his premiership was "an experience I will cherish all my life"; he also said that he was not certain what he would do next.{{Cite web |last=Ngcukana |first=Lubabalo |date=17 February 2019 |title=Masualle upbeat to be leaving Eastern Cape ‘better than he found it’ |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/masualle-upbeat-to-be-leaving-eastern-cape-better-than-he-found-it-20190217 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=City Press |language=en-US}} Pursuant to the 2019 election, Mabuyane succeeded him as Premier.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-14 |title=Meet the ANC’s premier candidates |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2019-05-14-meet-the-ancs-premier-candidates/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

In the 2019 election, Masualle did not stand for what would have been his fifth consecutive term in the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature; instead, he was elected to an ANC seat in the National Assembly, the lower house of the South African Parliament. He was ranked 39th on the ANC's national party list.{{Cite web |title=Godfrey Phumulo Masualle |url=http://www.pa.org.za/person/phumulo-masualle/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=People's Assembly |language=en}} After the election, he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises, serving under Minister Pravin Gordhan in Ramaphosa's second cabinet.{{Cite web |date=2019-05-29 |title=Unionists, women and an alleged smuggler? Who’s who in Ramaphosa’s Cabinet |url=https://mg.co.za/article/2019-05-29-unionists-women-and-an-alleged-smuggler-whos-who-in-ramaphosas-cabinet/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}

Masualle was not re-elected to the SACP Central Committee when his term expired in July 2019.{{Cite web |title=Current Central Committee |url=https://sacp.org.za/content/current-central-committee |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=South African Communist Party (SACP)}} However, he served the rest of his term on the ANC National Executive Committee, and, as the party's 55th National Conference approached in 2022, he was increasingly touted as a candidate for election as ANC secretary-general.{{Cite web |last=AmaShabalala |first=Mawande |date=16 September 2022 |title=Public enterprises deputy minister Phumulo Masualle touted for ANC SG |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2022-09-16-public-enterprises-deputy-minister-phumulo-masualle-touted-for-anc-sg/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}} His main competitors were Fikile Mbalula and Mdumiseni Ntuli. The Mabuyane-led Provincial Executive Committee in Masualle's home province controversially endorsed Ntuli's candidacy, but Masualle said that he was unconcerned and expected a groundswell of support from local party branches in the Eastern Cape.{{Cite web |last=Deklerk |first=Aphiwe |date=28 September 2022 |title=Masualle ‘inundated with calls’ of support to stand for ANC top-six post |url=https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2022-09-28-masualle-inundated-with-calls-of-support-to-stand-for-anc-top-six-post/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Daily Dispatch |language=en-ZA}}

In addition to appealing to "his former allies on the left", Masualle was expected to boost his campaign by leveraging opposition to Ramaphosa's re-election bid.{{Cite web |date=2022-11-23 |title=The real battle starts now for ANC positions |url=https://mg.co.za/thoughtleader/analysis/2022-11-23-the-real-battle-starts-now-for-anc-positions/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Indeed, he was openly critical of Ramaphosa during his campaign,{{Cite web |last=Feketha |first=Siviwe |date=23 October 2022 |title=Ramaphosa must go, says his own deputy minister |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/politics/ramaphosa-must-go-says-his-own-deputy-minister-20221023 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=City Press |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=AmaShabalala |first=Mawande |date=20 November 2022 |title=Ramaphosa’s time is up, says deputy minister Phumulo Masualle |url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/news/politics/2022-11-20-ramaphosas-time-is-up-says-deputy-minister-phumulo-masualle/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Sunday Times |language=en-ZA}} saying, among other things, that the step-aside rule had been used "to settle scores". The Mail & Guardian viewed him as a representative of the so-called radical economic transformation (RET) faction.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-17 |title=Could Ramaphosa lose ANC leadership? |url=https://mg.co.za/thoughtleader/opinion/2022-12-17-could-ramaphosa-lose-anc-leadership/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}}{{Cite web |date=2022-12-19 |title=How Ramaphosa stormed to victory against resurgent Zweli Mkhize in ANC race |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2022-12-19-how-ramaphosa-stormed-to-victory-against-resurgent-zweli-mkhize-in-anc-race/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} His opposition to Ramaphosa's re-election led him into alignment with Zweli Mkhize, the main presidential challenger.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-18 |title=Mzwandile Masina first nominee to withdraw from running for treasurer general |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2022-12-18-mzwandile-masina-first-nominee-to-withdraw-from-running-for-treasurer-general/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} When Masualle was endorsed by the Provincial Executive Committee of Mkhize's province, KwaZulu-Natal, Mabuyane accused the KwaZulu-Natal ANC of attempting to divide its Eastern Cape counterpart.{{Cite web |date=21 November 2022 |title=ANC KZN’s endorsing Phumulo Masualle is divisive move, Oscar Mabuyane says |url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2022-11-21-anc-kzns-endorsing-phumulo-masualle-is-divisive-move-oscar-mabuyane-says/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Business Day |language=en-ZA}}

The Mail & Guardian expected Mbalula and Ntuli to split the pro-Ramaphosa vote, but Mbalula nonetheless won narrowly in December 2022, receiving 1,692 votes against Masualle's 1,590 and Ntuli's 1,080.{{Cite web |date=2022-12-19 |title=Ramaphosa wins second term as ANC leader, beating Zweli Mkhize |url=https://mg.co.za/politics/2022-12-19-ramaphosa-wins-second-term-as-anc-leader-beating-zweli-mkhize/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=The Mail & Guardian |language=en-ZA}} Masualle was re-elected as an ordinary member of the National Executive Committee, ranked 30th by popularity.{{Cite web |date=22 December 2022 |title=Full list: ANC NEC members |url=https://www.enca.com/news/full-list-anc-nec-members |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=eNCA |language=en}}

On 6 March 2023, Ramaphosa announced a cabinet reshuffle, firing Masualle from the Ministry of Public Enterprises and replacing him with Obed Bapela.{{Cite web |last=Khumalo |first=Juniour |date=6 March 2023 |title=Two new ministries as Ramaphosa introduces Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as the electricity minister |url=https://www.news24.com/news24/politics/government/two-new-ministries-as-ramaphosa-introduces-kgosientsho-ramokgopa-as-the-electricity-minister-20230306 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=News24 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Feketha |first=Siviwe |date=6 March 2023 |title=Lindiwe Sisulu, biggest casualty of Ramaphosa's Cabinet reshuffle |url=https://www.news24.com/citypress/politics/lindiwe-sisulu-biggest-casualty-of-ramaphosas-cabinet-reshuffle-20230306 |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=City Press |language=en-US}} He remained in the National Assembly as an ordinary Member of Parliament and was appointed as a member of the Standing Committee on Finance.

Masualle married Fuzi Masualle in 1996;having two sons before; they then had one child of their own, born in 2017. They had been estranged since 2018.{{Cite web |last=Macanda |first=Siphe |date=7 December 2018 |title=Masualle death plot: wife in bid to clear name |url=https://www.dispatchlive.co.za/news/2018-12-07-masualle-death-plot-wife-in-bid-to-clear-name/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Daily Dispatch |language=en-ZA}} The Sowetan reported that Masualle was accompanied to the 2019 State of the Nation Address by a new girlfriend, a businesswoman from Mount Fletcher.{{Cite web |date=30 July 2019 |title='Mistress has done something to him' |url=https://www.sowetanlive.co.za/sundayworld/news/2019-07-30-mistress-has-done-something-to-him/ |access-date=2023-07-23 |website=Sowetan |language=en-ZA}}

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• {{People's Assembly (South Africa)|phumulo-masualle|Godfrey Phumulo Masualle}}

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{{s-bef|before=Noxolo Kiviet}}

{{s-ttl|title=Premier of the Eastern Cape|years=21 May 2014 – 22 May 2019}}

{{s-aft|after=Oscar Mabuyane}}

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{{EastCapePremiers}}{{Current MPs of South Africa}}

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Category:Living people

Category:1965 births

Category:People from Elundini Local Municipality

Category:African National Congress politicians

Category:South African Communist Party politicians

Category:20th-century South African politicians

Category:Members of the Eastern Cape Provincial Legislature

Category:Premiers of the Eastern Cape

Category:Members of the National Assembly of South Africa 2019–2024