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[FILE IMAGE]: ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa and then Deputy President David Mabuza arrive to address supporters of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) at an election victory rally in Johannesburg, South Africa, May 12, 2019.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed his sadness following the passing his former Deputy President, David Mabuza. This as tributes continue to pour in for Mabuza, who passed on at a Johannesburg hospital on Thursday morning.
“I have learned with deep sadness of the passing of former Deputy President and former Premier of Mpumalanga David Dabede Mabuza,” reads in part the statement by Ramaphosa.
“On behalf of government and the nation, I offer my profound condolences to the late Deputy President’s wife, Mrs Mabuza, and the children. I extend my condolences to Deputy President Mabuza’s friends and the people of Mpumalanga whom he served as Premier from 2009 to 2018, and previously as a Member of the Executive Council of Mpumalanga across a range of portfolios,” continues the statement.
President Ramaphosa sends heartfelt condolences on the passing of former Dep. President David Mabuza
Mabuza cut his political teeth in the Black Consciousness Movement, while he was still a student. A trained teacher by profession, he later became a principal.
He was also the chairperson of the South African Democratic Teachers Union.
Post1994, he became the MEC for Education and later MEC for housing in 1999. He later became the Chair of the ANC in Mpumalanga between 2008 and 2017. In December of that year, he was elected ANC deputy president at the party’s 54th national conference.
He was replaced by Paul Mashatile in the 2022 conference.
His political homes the ANC and his BCM party Azapo have expressed shock at his passing.
Ramaphosa has lauded the work Mabuza did as his deputy.
“During his service as Deputy President of the Republic, Deputy President Mabuza applied his leadership and mobilisation abilities to his role as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament; leading the South African National Aids Council; coordinating anti-poverty initiatives in the form of Public Employment Programmes, Integrated Service Delivery and Enterprise Development,” reads the statement further.
“The former deputy president deserves our appreciation for his deep commitment to the liberation struggle and to the nation’s development as an inclusive, prosperous, democratic state.”
The president says further announcements will be made in due course on the former deputy president’s memorial and funeral services.
As a former Deputy President, Mabuza will receive a Category 2 State Funeral with prescribed military ceremonial honours.
Samkele Maseko on the passing of former Deputy President David Mabuza:
