Staff Reporter

David Dabede Mabuza, who served as South Africa’s Deputy President from February 2018 to February 2023, died yesterday in Sandton at the age of 64.

The cause of his death is yet to be released.
Mabuza, a prominent figure in South African politics, had a long and impactful career, initially emerging from the Black Consciousness movement and later becoming a key leader within the African National Congress (ANC).

Born on August 25, 1960, in Phola, South Africa, Mabuza was a teacher by training before entering the political arena.
He rose through the ranks of teachers’ unions, serving as chairperson of the South African Democratic Teachers Union from 1988 to 1991.

Following the end of apartheid in 1994, Mabuza was elected to the Mpumalanga provincial legislature, where he held various ministerial portfolios in the provincial executive.

He served as the Premier of Mpumalanga from 2009 to 2018, a period during which he increased the size and influence of the ANC’s provincial branch.

His political prowess was further cemented when he was elected Deputy President of the ANC in December 2017, serving under President Cyril Ramaphosa.

He then assumed the national Deputy Presidency in February 2018 after Jacob Zuma’s resignation, a role he held until February 2023.

Mabuza also served as a Member of Parliament from 2018 until his resignation in 2023.
Known for his populist political style, Mabuza was a central figure in the Premier League, a faction that played a great role in shaping the outcome of the ANC’s 54th National Conference.