Ramaphosa confirms death of former deputy president David Mabuza, aged 64

Daily Maverick

5 days ago

The death of the country's former deputy president was confirmed by President Cyril Ramaphosa on Thursday evening. Ramaphosa said David Mabuza 'deserves our appreciation for his deep commitment to the liberation struggle and to the nation's development as an inclusive, prosperous, democratic state'.
David Dabede 'DD' Mabuza, the former South African deputy president, died on Thursday, 3 July 2025. On Thursday evening, President Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed his death, saying Mabuza died in an Mpumalanga hospital following a short illness.
'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,' said Ramaphosa.
Mabuza was first sworn in as deputy president in February 2018 and again in May 2019 as part of the 6th democratic administration, led by President Ramaphosa.
He was born in Mpumalanga on 25 August 1960.
According to the Presidency's profile of Mabuza, he held several positions within the Mpumalanga executive, including MEC for agriculture and land administration from 2008 to 2009; MEC for roads and transport from 2007 to 2008; a Member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature from 2004 to 2007. He was also a Member of Parliament from 2001 to 2004 and before that, Mpumalanga MEC for housing from 1999 to 2001 and MEC for education between 1994 and 1998.
He was a mathematics teacher by training.
'Grounded in activism'
Ramaphosa praised Mabuza's contribution to South Africa: 'We are saddened today by the loss of a leader who was grounded in activism at the early stages of his political career and who came to lead our nation and shape South Africa's engagement with our continental compatriots and the international community in his role as Deputy President.'
'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.'
Fikile Mbalula, the secretary-general of Mabuza's political home, the African National Congress (ANC), was the first to confirm Mabuza's death on Thursday afternoon.
He posted on social media platform X: 'Comrade Mabuza dedicated his life to the service of the people of South Africa. From his days in the struggle against apartheid to his leadership as Premier of Mpumalanga and later as Deputy President, he was a committed cadre who carried the values of unity, discipline, and transformation.'
Key player in Ramaphosa's rise
Mabuza was a key player in the ascendancy of Cyril Ramaphosa as ANC president in 2017. Stephen Grootes wrote in November 2022: 'It is difficult now to remember just how potent Mabuza was five years ago. It is generally accepted that without his intervention, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma would have won the ANC presidency.
'This would have led to the continued supremacy of Jacob Zuma's faction, and a likely party split. It would have also been coupled with massive social turmoil as a result of the continuation of Gupta-aligned control of South Africa just as the #GuptaLeaks laid bare most of their crimes.
'It was this central positioning that forced the CR17 campaign to make Mabuza deputy president. Mabuza even had the power to force Ramaphosa to postpone his Cabinet announcement.'
Mabuza was relatively quiet during his term as deputy president. He was tasked with overseeing key programmes, but was often more notable for his absence rather than his influence.
Civil case, ill health and corruption scandals
Mabuza was, however, locked in a long-running civil case against conservationist Fred Daniel, which dated back to his governance tenure in Mpumalanga, as Daily Maverick's Kevin Bloom reported.
He had also been in and out of Russia, seeking medical treatment and follow-up consultation in that country. As Daily Maverick reported in 2o21, Mabuza had allegedly been poisoned during his tenure as Mpumalanga premier.
Mabuza had also been front and centre of a New York Times feature in 2018, which claimed that during his time as Mpumalanga premier, 'millions of dollars for education have disappeared into a vortex of suspicious spending, shoddy public construction and brazen corruption to fuel his political ambitions, according to government records and officials in his party'.
Since leaving public office, Mabuza kept a relatively low profile, though he attended this year's State of the Nation Address.
Resignation
Mabuza resigned from Parliament in March 2023 to make way for new ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile to fill the role as the country's No 2.
'On behalf of the African National Congress, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, comrades, and the people of South Africa. We have lost a patriot, a freedom fighter and a leader who served with humility and conviction,' posted Mbalula.
Condolences poured in from the political arena following the news of Mabuza's passing.
Tourism Minister Patricia de Lille – who worked with Mabuza in Cabinet from 2018 to 2023 – said: 'He was an exemplary chair of intergovernmental forums, his meetings were marked by punctuality, clarity of purpose, and firm outcomes. I personally admired his respect for time and process, and it is a discipline we can all learn from in public service.'
ActionSA President Herman Mashaba said, 'While varying reflections on his legacy will no doubt unfold in the days to come, ActionSA simply wishes to extend compassion to his family as they begin this difficult mourning journey. We pray for their strength, peace and comfort during this time of loss.'
Mabuza's parents were farmers, and multiple organisations noted his modest upbringing.
'From humble beginnings, he rose to occupy one of the highest offices in the land, carrying with him the hopes of many and a profound sense of duty to his country,' said IFP President Velenkosini Hlabisa on Thursday.
Cosatu said, 'Deputy president Mabuza was amongst the founding generation of teacher activists, then split amongst many different trade unions scattered across the country, and often along racial lines to form the South African Democratic Teachers' Union, the first national non-racial teachers' union and today the largest teachers' union.
'His experience as a teacher and principal made him a fitting choice as the first MEC for education in Mpumalanga province after the democratic breakthrough of 1994.'
Ramaphosa said, 'Further announcements will be made in due course on memorial arrangements and the honours with which the country will pay its final respects to the former Deputy President.' DM