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The Citizen
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
‘We're not always what we claim to be': Ramaphosa takes dig at SA's politicians during Mabuza's funeral
Speaking at David Mabuza's funeral, Ramaphosa said the country's leaders need to be more 'selfless'. President Cyril Ramaphosa delivers the eulogy during the funeral of former deputy president David Mabuza at Hoërskool Bergvlam, Mbombela, Mpumalanga, on 12 July 2025. Picture: GCIS President Cyril Ramaphosa told South Africa's politicians to use former deputy president David Mabuza's funeral as an opportunity to reflect on their roles. Ramaphosa delivered a eulogy at Mabuza's funeral in Mbombela, Mpumalanga, on Saturday. 'The sad and untimely passing of our fellow comrade is a time for the leaders of this country to reflect,' he said. ALSO READ: Mabuza funeral: It was his dream to see the ANC united – Ramaphosa 'Personal ambition prioritised over collective progress' – Ramaphosa The president said South Africa's leaders are 'not always what we claim to be'. 'Too many of us often say 'yes, we are honest in what we say', but in the end become less honest in what we do,' he said. 'Too often, personal ambition takes precedence over collective progress. Too often, our words sow division. 'If we are serious about building something greater than ourselves, be it a movement, be it a community, or be it a nation, we must begin with humility.' ALSO READ: Mbalula defends the way he announced Mabuza's death [VIDEO] Ramaphosa said South Africa's leaders must have commitment and be prepared to sacrifice. 'We must ask not just what we are fighting against, but we must ask what we are building towards.' He seemed to take a dig at politicians prioritising their own interests. 'We need to let our selflessness be more than just sentiment. It should be action.' Mabuza 'wanted unity' in ANC He said Mabuza sought to unite the ANC. 'At the time when there was disunity in the African National Congress, DD Mabuza sought to unite the ANC. 'So, with this passing, we have lost a great leader. DD Mabuza has left a void.' After his passing, Mabuza was remembered as playing a pivotal role in getting Ramaphosa elected as president in 2017. He has been credited with potentially saving the country by switching his allegiance from the RET faction backing Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to Ramaphosa's Thuma Mina campaign. Ramaphosa said ANC members need to honour Mabuza by emulating him. 'We need to honour him, but honour him correctly by emulating him, by doing what he did to be Mr Unity.' NOW READ: SACP official claims Mabuza backed unity to prevent Zuma's 'rule from the grave'
The Star
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Star
What South Africa needs now are bold, no-nonsense leaders like Mkhwanazi
Just last week the allegedly handsome Minister of Minerals, Gwede Mantashe, who likes joking around – even while Rome is burning – told the OR Tambo regional conference in the Eastern Cape that he had no ambitions of becoming the next president of the once-glorious movement, the African National Congress. 'What mess do you want to put me in? I'm too old to be president,' the jokester minister said to raucous laughter from his comrades. It was good to hear the 70-year-old who believes he looks younger due to his handsomeness clear the air about where he stands in the presidential race that's clearly already underway. I must confess, I don't sleep well when he is the country's acting president. Jokes aside, the mess Mantashe spoke about needs tough, no-nonsense leaders – people like KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Unfortunately for poor Mzansi, we have a man of 'processes' in charge of the mess in the ruling party and our mess of a country. That ambitious man came in singing 'Thuma Mina' – send me – promising to clean up every crook and crony. Please blame my spoonerizing of the phrase on the old ANC chairperson who moonlights as a humorist. It's tempting to laugh but the joke is really on all 60-million-plus of us who live in this beautiful country with so much wealth and potential. As they say, you get the government you deserve. Besides the Grand Mess that is the Republic of South Africa, the police crises have been a festering mess for years. The man who fought for years to be president went in with his eyes wide open, fully aware of the mess Mantashe is not prepared to dive into.
IOL News
11-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
What South Africa needs now are bold, no-nonsense leaders like Mkhwanazi
Kwa-Zulu-Natal provincial police commissioner, Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Image: Archives Just last week the allegedly handsome Minister of Minerals, Gwede Mantashe, who likes joking around – even while Rome is burning – told the OR Tambo regional conference in the Eastern Cape that he had no ambitions of becoming the next president of the once-glorious movement, the African National Congress. 'What mess do you want to put me in? I'm too old to be president,' the jokester minister said to raucous laughter from his comrades. It was good to hear the 70-year-old who believes he looks younger due to his handsomeness clear the air about where he stands in the presidential race that's clearly already underway. I must confess, I don't sleep well when he is the country's acting president. Jokes aside, the mess Mantashe spoke about needs tough, no-nonsense leaders – people like KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi. Unfortunately for poor Mzansi, we have a man of 'processes' in charge of the mess in the ruling party and our mess of a country. That ambitious man came in singing 'Thuma Mina' – send me – promising to clean up every crook and crony. Please blame my spoonerizing of the phrase on the old ANC chairperson who moonlights as a humorist. It's tempting to laugh but the joke is really on all 60-million-plus of us who live in this beautiful country with so much wealth and potential. As they say, you get the government you deserve. Besides the Grand Mess that is the Republic of South Africa, the police crises have been a festering mess for years. The man who fought for years to be president went in with his eyes wide open, fully aware of the mess Mantashe is not prepared to dive into. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading President Cyril Ramaphosa had surely heard of many of the smallanyana as well as the giant skeletons in the cupboards of the powermongers, as we all have over the years. And commissions of enquiry have provided proof aplenty, and the Auditor-General regularly confirms to all who care to listen that the mess simply continues. Therefore, everyone thought going in, Mr Thuma Mina had a good plan as well as the necessary gumption and grit. Our great country is sinking fast in this boggy mass of a mess of crime and corruption, decaying at greater and greater speed. Mantashe was correct. This mess is not for old men. It's also not for sissies or compromised renewal cadres obsessed with wealth accumulation.
The Citizen
04-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Remembering Mabuza: The man who ‘dashed' the potential Zuma dynasty
Mabuza was one of the influential leaders of the ANC, referred to as the Premier League. Among the many memories of former deputy president David 'DD' Mabuza will be his slick political moves and pulling the rug out from under the Radical Economic Transformation (RET) faction of the ANC. Mabuza died on Thursday after a prolonged battle with ill health. He was accused of corruption and political violence, allegations which he denied. The day he pulled one over Zuma In 2017, Mabuza was the chairperson of the ANC in Mpumalanga and an influential figure in the party as it headed into its 54th national elective conference. 'What made DD stand out is that he was part of the group that supported Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (NDZ). They wanted her to become the president of the ANC after Jacob Zuma,' political analyst Ntsikelelo Breakfast told The Citizen. 'That is a project that went wrong and he played a role in that. He campaigned in the build-up to that conference. In the 11th hour, on the verge of that conference, he became the kingmaker. 'It is an open secret that President Cyril Ramaphosa would not have become president without DD.' A popular deputy? Following the conference, Mabuza was chosen by Ramaphosa as deputy president of the country. A position he held until 2023. Mabuza was criticised for his notable silence during his deputy presidency, which made him appear detached from the national discourse and the country's political developments. According to Breakfast, Mabuza did not last long in the role because he had a number of enemies within the ANC after the 2017 conference. 'Some people did not like the idea that he was the deputy president and that he was getting attention. They isolated him and as a result, he left the government prematurely. 'Another explanation for his departure could be that the guy was not well; he was always in and out of hospital,' Breakfast said. In 2016, Mabuza told the media that his health problems were a result of an alleged poisoning the previous year. According to Breakfast, the RET faction of the ANC was also angry at Mabuza for his decision to support the Thuma Mina campaign, which pushed for Ramaphosa's election as party president. 'He ended up having bad blood with the RET faction. They saw him as a sellout and traitor. 'On the other hand, he was ill-treated by the Ramaphosa faction and he could not go back to the Zuma faction,' he said. Breakfast believes Mabuza potentially saved the country by switching allegiance. 'The fact of the matter is that there was a push back of the dominance of state capture, there was a push back of Zuma and his faction in the state machinery and this also permeated to the global stage. 'What would have happened when the RET faction won would have been worse. Whether we think the markets are racist or not, it would have been worse for economic growth,' he said. Breakfast described Mabuza as a skilled politician. 'He did not talk too much, therefore he did not reveal who he was and he was able to move,' he said. ALSO READ: Former deputy president David Mabuza has died A man of his word, says Mashatile Deputy President Paul Mashatile visited the Mabuza family on Friday, hailing him as a committed member of the ANC who had served the party well. 'He always wanted unity in the party. I would like to say to members of the ANC that we need to build on that legacy – the legacy of unity, the legacy of putting people first. 'He was a man who, once he agreed to do something, he would never betray you. He would never change and that is the kind of leadership that we want to see emerging from our ranks.' NOW READ: 'The Cat' is no more: Tributes pour in for former deputy president David Mabuza
