David Mabuza

His Excellency David Dabede Mabuza MP
Mabuza in 2019
8th Deputy President of South Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 February 2018
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	Cyril Ramaphosa
10th Deputy President of the African National Congress
Incumbent
Assumed office 18 December 2017
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Preceded by	Cyril Ramaphosa
Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly of South Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 September 2018
President	Cyril Ramaphosa
Member of the National Assembly of South Africa
Incumbent
Assumed office 27 February 2018
Constituency	Mpumalanga
4th Premier of Mpumalanga
In office 6 May 2009 – 26 February 2018
Preceded by	Thabang Makwetla
Succeeded by	Refilwe Mtsweni-Tsipane
Personal details
Born	David Dabede Mabuza (1960-08-25) 25 August 1960 (age 61) Transvaal Province, Union of South Africa
Political party	African National Congress
Spouse(s)	Ruth Funi Silinda (divorced) Nonhlanhla Patience Mnisi (current)[1]
Alma mater	University of South Africa
Occupation	Politician
Profession	Educator
Website	Official website
Nickname(s)	The Cat

David Dabede Mabuza (born 25 August 1960) is a South African politician, currently the Deputy President of South Africa and the Deputy President of the African National Congress (ANC). He is also the former Premier of Mpumalanga.

Early life and career[]

Mabuza matriculated at Khumbula High School and studied at the Mgwenya College of Education and later at the University of South Africa. He earned a certificate in education and a BA degree from the respective institutions.^[2][3]

Mabuza was a secretary of the Azania Student Organisation (AZASO) from 1984 to 1985, chairperson of NEUSA from 1986 to 1988, treasurer of FEP from 1986 to 1990, a co-ordinator of NECC from 1987 to 1989, and chairperson of the South African Democratic Teachers Union from 1988 to 1991. He taught at KaNgwane Department of Education from 1986 to 1988 and he was a Principal of Lungisani Secondary School from 1989 to 1993.^[3]

Provincial roles[]

Mabuza served as a Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Education in Mpumalanga from 1994 to 1998, as a regional Chairperson of the African National Congress (ANC) from 1994 to 1998, member of the Provincial Executive Committee of ANC from 1998 to 2006, MEC for Housing from 1999 to 2001, member of the Mpumalanga Provincial Legislature from 1999 to 2001, member of Parliament from 2001 to 2004 and as a member of Mpumalanga Legislature from 2004 to 2007. Mabuza served as Deputy Chairperson of the ANC Mpumalanga Province in 2005, MEC for Road and Transport from 2007 to 2008, chairperson of the ANC in Mpumalanga in 2008. and MEC for Agriculture and Land Administration from 2008 to 6 May 2009. He also served as a leader of government business in the Mpumalanga Legislature in 2007.^[3]

In 2007 Mabuza supported Jacob Zuma's successful campaign to become President of the ANC while he was Mpumalanga deputy chairperson, and became a provincial chairperson afterwards taking over from Thabang Makwetla who was chairperson and who supported Thabo Mbeki's failed bid to be ANC President in Polokwane's national congress^{[citation needed]}. On 10 May 2009 Mabuza became the Premier of Mpumalanga.^[2][3]

Deputy President[]

During the internal election campaign within the ANC to elect Zuma's successor Mabuza supported a rival of Ramaphosa, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, but switched to support him at the last moment.^[4] On 18 December 2017, he was elected Deputy President of the ANC. On 26 February 2018, he was selected by Cyril Ramaphosa as Deputy President of South Africa. On 20 March 2018, Mabuza gave his maiden speech in Parliament and for the first time responded to questions from MP's as the Deputy President of South Africa. On 21 March 2018, Mabuza addressed the national Human Rights Day commemoration in Sharpeville as President Ramaphosa was out of the country on official business.

Scandals and controversy[]

Mabuza has been accused of corruption and involvement in tender fraud and being behind the assassination of political opponents while premier of Mpumalanga.^[5] In 2015, he was allegedly poisoned, but recovered, giving himself the nickname "The Cat" for his ability to survive attacks by his opponents.^[6] He had left Vusi Shongwe, the then MEC for Community Safety, Security and Liaison and now the MEC of the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land and Environmental Affairs, to become the acting Premier while he was off sick.^[7]

In 2010, a large sum of cash, allegedly R14 million, was stolen from his home. The provincial organised crime unit insisted only R1,200 was stolen from his home and he later reported only R4-million missing.^[8][9][5]

Mabuza has said that allegations against him are part of a smear campaign by his opponents.^[10]

In August 2018 the New York Times published an investigative article that described Mabuza “as one of South Africa’s most dangerous. Nearly 20 politicians, most from inside the A.N.C., were assassinated in the past two decades, some after exposing graft in public works projects”.^[4] The article alleges that Mabuza built a network of political patronage in Mpumalanga by corruptly awarding contracts to build schools in the province during his time as premier, thereby strengthening his power base within the ANC at the expense of the delivery of public education services by government.^[4][11]

There have been persistent multiple allegations of his involvement in the murder of Jimmy Mohlala, speaker of the Mbombela municipality and ANC Youth League firebrand James Nkambule. The latest is by former butler to Mabuza, Jan Venter who was placed in a witness protection program.^[12]

References[]