Mabuza remembered for taking even controversial matters in his stride
Mabuza died on Thursday, aged 64.
As the leader of government business, he was expected to crack the whip on errant ministers who did not answer members of Parliament (MPs) questions in time, or failed to show up at committee meetings.
But after five years in the house, Mabuza resigned on his own terms.
He was last seen in Parliament in February, when he attended the State of the Nation Address (SONA) held in the Cape Town City Hall.
The former deputy president was first sworn in as an MP in early 2018, at a controversial time in the African National Congress (ANC)'s history, as the deputy to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mabuza's interaction with Parliament was largely through quarterly question time in both houses.
From his very first question-and-answer session, Mabuza seldom appeared rattled by the tough questions, even when quizzed about political assassinations in his home province of Mpumalanga.
'We must avoid a situation where we go around casting aspersions against people without any due process.'
Mabuza was also quick to defend his party comrades when their conduct put them on the wrong side of the law.
'We don't have a dustbin where we throw people. We correct people. We move with them.'
READ: Ramaphosa remembers late former Deputy President Mabuza as a leader grounded activism
His leave of absence from official duty and his hospitalisation in Russia in 2021 also did not escape Parliamentary interrogation.
'I've covered the costs of my treatment, the travelling, 100%. No money was paid by the South African government towards my treatment.'
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mabuza would mostly communicate with Parliament from a virtual platform, always positioned in front of the national flag.
When the writing was on the wall that he planned to step down in early 2023, it was Ramaphosa who confirmed the reports during the SONA debate, raising a glass of water from the podium to salute him.
'I would like to thank him for the work he's done for this nation, and for all of us…..DP, cheers!'
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