Mabuza fondly remembered by Mpumalanga residents

Former DP David Mabuza at former Minister Zola Skweyiya’s memorial service in 2018.

Residents of Phola Trust in Masoyi, Mpumalanga, have spoken highly of former Deputy President David Mabuza following his passing on Thursday.

Mabuza, who grew up in Phola, died in a Johannesburg hospital in Gauteng at the age of 64 following a short illness.

The residents say Mabuza did a lot for the community during his political career.

“DD Mabuza, as a father of this community and as a politician, he helped us a lot, meaning that he built a school for us, Mdzimba Primary School, willing to help us as young kids and the kids who are growing to be something to do better,” says one of the residents.

“Mr David was a good person. He treated us very well as his neighbours. He built us roads, he built houses for people, he was a kind person, he loved everyone. At schools, he would give uniform to the learners, even food parcels,” says another resident.

Meanwhile, Mabuza’s former primary school principal, Dr Dick Manzini says he shown leadership qualities from his primary school days.

“He was an intelligent young man who could influence people to follow him. Where you will find him you will find a number of people. He was also a soccer player in the school. So, he was good in Mathematics, English, he was good. But where you will find him, he loved to debate and he loved to influence people. He started to be the activist even there at the primary,” says Manzini.