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·      David Mabuza had double personalities – a saint and villain ·      A committed cadre who carried the values of unity, discipline, and transformation ·      He was linked to political killings throughout his 10-year tenure, but no one laid charges

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Sizwe sama Yende

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David DD Mabuza (64), the cat with nine lives, has finally passed on.

In life he was enigmatic and capricious – often leaving his political allies and foes alike perplexed by his chess moves in the game of politics.

To some of those he led and was bound by government’s contract to serve because of the positions he held as an MEC, in the beginning, premier of Mpumalanga province, and eventually deputy president of the country – he was effusively generous and even attended to individuals one by one at his farmhouse in Barberton to assist with whatever they were asking for.

However, as someone with conflicting characters, Mabuza was also widely accused of withholding, hogging, and directing some resources from those he was contracted to serve to his own cabal.

Mabuza’s death was unexpected, because of his age and a façade of a healthy and fit man when he made a rare appearance in photos on social media at a funeral of his father a few months ago.

His death can best be described, aptly, as being stealth.

ANC secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, confirmed the cat’s death on his X account this afternoon. By the way, Mabuza earned the nickname of “the cat with nine lives” in 2016 after he fell ill at his birthday party and would eventually be on sick leave for two months. He said he was poisoned, but no police complaint was registered. Back then, rumours circulated far and wide that he had died.

FIKILE MBALULA’S TRIBUTE

“It is with deep sorrow and a heavy heart that we learn of the passing of former Deputy President of the Republic and stalwart of our movement, Comrade David Dabede Mabuza,” Mbalula wrote.

“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.”

Mbalula added that  the ANC and the country had lost a patriot, a freedom fighter, and a leader who served with humility and conviction. “May his soul rest in peace, and may we honour his legacy by continuing the work of building a united, non-racial, non-sexist, democratic, and prosperous South Africa,” he said.

Mpumalanga premier, Mandla Ndlovu, said that the ANC and government would issue a statement tomorrow.

Mabuza retired from politics after serving one term as deputy to President Cyril Ramaphosa.

His fanatical supporters within the ANC were sure he was going to challenge Ramaphosa in the 2022 ANC conference or stand to be re-elected to his position as deputy president.

That was not be as he declined nomination from the floor to stand. Mabuza left them feeling used and they whined about wasting time campaigning for him.

Just like in the previous conference where he was elected deputy president, Mabuza had all Mpumalanga branches believing that their presidential candidate was Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. At the last hour, he commanded them to vote Ramaphosa.

TURBULENT AND CHAOTIC LEGACY

Even though Mabuza had retreated from politics, there were whispers that he was planning his comeback to challenge for the ANC presidency. That is now never going to happen.

Mabuza’s legacy as Mpumalanga premier and provincial ANC chairperson was turbulent and chaotic.

Former Mpumalanga Finance MEC and provincial ANC deputy chairperson said that Mabuza introduced the culture of buying ANC conferences back in 2018 when he stood to be elected chairperson.

“That was something we had never seen before. Delegates were quarantined and the conference venue was empty. I asked Thabang Makwetla (who was outgoing ANC chairperson and premier at that time): Do you see what is happening? He said yes and after a while buses full of delegates arrived,” Modipane said.

“I realised there and there that the conference was gone. That’s how Lassy Chiwayo lost it.”

POLITICAL KILLINGS

As a premier, Mabuza was linked to political killings throughout his 10-year tenure. To his credit, no one went to the police to lay charges against him.

Mabuza however did not help the situation when he appeared to be uncommitted to the course to resolve political killings. “One day I will talk and the country will be shocked,” that’s a promise he made, but would unfortunately not fulfil.

Then, there were allegations of massive corruption, commitment of government budget to mega projects costing billions of rands and wedging divisions within the ANC.

Mpumalanga government is left to deal with projects such as the High Altitude Athletes Centre and the Cultural and Creatives hubs, which continue to eat into the coffers 11 years since they were conceptualised.

As for the ANC in the province, he has left it divided between those in his corner and those against his “dictatorial” leadership as they called it.

Mabuza was born in Phola near Hazyview. He was a Mathematics teacher before he decided to be a full-time politician and was among the first Mpumalanga cabinet members of the democratic government.