-
The late David Makhubela, at his funeral, was described as a smart and intelligent man
African Congress for Transformation (ACT) President, Ace Magashule says the African National Congress (ANC) has been regressing since 2017. Magashule says the poor state of municipalities is a reflection that ANC that is not united and added that the Government of National Unity (GNU) is a betrayal of the people.
Magashule said this on the sidelines during the funeral service of ACT’s sole member of the Free State Legislature, David Mkhabela.
Today we lay to rest a gentle giant, Comrade David Dabede Mabuza, a dedicated servant of the people, a seasoned leader of our movement, and a stalwart of the democratic struggle. Cde David was leader who played a critical role in building the ANC structures in Mpumalanga and the… pic.twitter.com/ghoOBgdt5H
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) July 12, 2025
The service took place at Kingdom Academy, in Welkom.
Members of ACT, the Free State legislature and the community gathered in numbers to pay tribute to Mkhabela who died last week after a long illness.
David Mkhabela, the sole member of the ACT in the Free State legislature, has been described as loving and caring.
Paul Mkhabela the deceased’s uncle told mourners that his nephew’s political life surprised him.
Paul says he never thought his nephew would reach the political height that he attained.
He described David as a smart and intelligent man. He says his nephew was in hospital for almost a year soon after he became an MPL.
“This young man, when he was inaugurated last year in the Free State provincial legislature as MPL for ACT party, he gave me a call and he was so excited and he said, ‘uncle, all these questions that you have been asking yourself, I think you saw on TV , you saw on social media, I was inaugurated today. I’m now an MPL’. But unfortunately, he couldn’t attend even one sitting of the provincial legislature because immediately after a week or two after the inauguration he got sick and he was bedridden for almost a year in Pretoria east hospital, Netcare,” says Mkhabela.
Magashule also paid homage to the only member of the party in the Free State legislature. He says he believes the legacy of Mkhabela will live on.
Magashule used the funeral of Mkhabela to garner support for ACT.
He says the ANC has been captured and has failed to serve the people.
“Since 2018, what has the ANC done? The President of the ANC says in terms of the National Dialogue, why are the taps dry? Why are there no medicines in the clinic? Why are few people so rich? Who must actually ensure that there is water and the taps are not dry? Who must ensure that there are better roads and that there’s no crime in the governing party? It is the President of the country and the ANC. The youth league in the Free State says dissolve the following 9 municipalities. The ANC itself has no confidence in itself,” says Magashule.
The Speaker of the Free State Legislature, Mxolisi Dukwana was amongst those who attend the funeral of Mkhabela and passed message of support to the bereaved family.
“To the family of the beloved honourable member on behalf of Legislature, we send our deepest condolence to the family. To the leadership of ACT, he was a member and though his time was short, his legacy will live on. We do not speak about him in past tense,” says Dukwana.
Some speakers have spoken strongly against some party members who were opposed to Mkhabela’s nomination to represent the party in provincial legislature.
The party got a seat after May 2024 general elections.
