Former deputy president David Mabuza dies, aged 64
He served as deputy president from February 2018 to February 2023.
The former ANC's National Executive Committee member also served as the premier of Mpumalanga between 2009 and 2018, throughout the presidency of his former political ally, Jacob Zuma.
A native of rural Mpumalanga, and a teacher by training, Mabuza's initial engagement in politics was through the Black Consciousness movement, while he was a student, and then through teachers' unions.
He was chairperson of the South African Democratic Teachers Union, an affiliate of the influential Congress of South African Trade Unions, from 1988 to 1991.
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SowetanLIVE
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DD, the unifier, was a man of his word, and I can vouch for his dependability
On Thursday, former deputy president David Debede Mabuza sadly departed. Aged 64, his untimely passing deepens the moment of grief. Mabuza's extensive record in public affairs offers valuable insights into leadership. This is particularly so, since his story is part of SA's post-apartheid journey under the leadership of an African National Congress (ANC) of which he was a member and leader. 'DD' – as Mabuza was popularly known – was a mathematics teacher who cut his anti-apartheid activism in the Azanian Students Organisation (Azaso) in his youth in the 1980s, and later joined the Congress Movement, led by the ANC. After the first democratic elections in 1994, he was deployed to the government to help realise the society of the promise of the Freedom Charter, whose 70th anniversary we mark this year. As an ANC deployee in government, Mabuza was one of the early pathfinders of our democracy, whose ingenuity provided the foundation upon which the democratic edifice stands. Their commitment to the cause of democracy helped to restore the people's confidence in the government following the erosion of trust during the apartheid era. His effusive and staid disposition proved to be an added advantage in the post-apartheid confidence-building process – without which the democratic government would have struggled to rebuild and sustain the confidence of the people. In the tradition of the ANC, leadership is a collaborative process. Each leader brings their strengths to bear, while simultaneously mitigating the shortcomings of their colleagues. One has to see oneself as a team player; indeed, as part of a collective with a shared outlook, roles and responsibilities. In this, Mabuza distinguished himself well, inspiring many around him. He was a man of his word, and I can personally vouch for his dependability. Once he had committed himself to something or a course of action, he stuck to it regardless of the cost or inconvenience to his personal wellbeing. He was also a man of few words. Yet, when he spoke, his voice carried authority and decisiveness. To be a team player also means that one should endeavour to be a unifier, a trait that Mabuza possessed in sufficient stock. In the run-up to the 2017 ANC national conference, and after, he was widely associated with the concept and practice of 'unity'. He appealed to Mpumalanga and all conference delegates to promote organisational unity and cohesion, in word and in deed. Unity is essential not only for the ANC. It is of critical importance to all South Africans, black and white. We sink or swim together. There is no better way to achieve national unity than to work towards the SA envisioned in the Freedom Charter. History is the work of the hands of more than an individual leader. However, it is nearly impossible to analyse the 2017 conference and its aftermaths without the role of Mabuza, among other actors.
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ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane will on Saturday visit the home of the late former deputy president David Mabuza in Barberton, Mpumalanga. In a statement on Saturday, the ANC said the visit was part of the organisation's 'continued expression of condolences, solidarity and support to the Mabuza family and the broader community of Mpumalanga as the nation mourns the passing of a committed leader and servant of the people'. Mabuza died on Thursday, aged 64, at a hospital in Mpumalanga after a short illness. Mabuza was born at Phola Trust in Mpumalanga on August 25 1960. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of South Africa in 1989, after achieving a National Teacher's Certificate from Mgwenya College of Education in 1985, according to the presidency. Mabuza was a trained mathematics teacher and became a school principal before going into politics. Mabuza held a number of positions in government including Mpumalanga MEC for education between 1994 and 1998 and housing MEC between 1999 and 2001, He was an MP between 2001 and 2004, Mpumalanga MPL from 2004 to 2007, MEC for roads and transport between 2007 and 2008 and Mpumalanga premier from 2009 to 2018. The presidency said Mabuza rose through the ranks of the ANC, having been elected as: the chairperson of the ANC in Mpumalanga from 2008 to 2017; ex officio member of the national executive committee (NEC) of the ANC since 2007; deputy chairperson of the ANC Mpumalanga in 2005; chairperson of the South African Democratic Teachers Union from 1988 to 1991; co-ordinator of the National Education Crisis Committee from 1987 to 1989; chairperson of National Education Union of South Africa from 1986 to 1988; treasurer of Foundation for Education with Production from 1986 to 1990; and secretary of the Azanian Student Organisation from 1984 to 1985. President Cyril Ramaphosa had tasked Mabuza, during the 2019 to 2024 term of government, with a number of responsibilities. TimesLIVE
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On Thursday July 3 2025, former deputy president David Debede Mabuza sadly departed. Aged 64, his untimely passing deepens the moment of grief. Mabuza's extensive record in public affairs offers valuable insights into leadership. This is particularly so since his story is part of South Africa's post-apartheid journey under the leadership of an ANC of which he was a member and leader. 'DD' — as Mabuza was popularly known — was a mathematics teacher who cut his anti-apartheid activism in the Azanian Students Organisation (Azaso) in his youth in the 1980s, and later joined the Congress Movement, led by the ANC. After the first democratic elections in 1994, he was deployed to the government to help realise the society of the promise of the Freedom Charter, whose 70th anniversary we mark this year. As an ANC deployee in government, Mabuza was one of the early pathfinders of our democracy, whose ingenuity provided the foundation upon which the democratic edifice stands. Their commitment to the cause of democracy helped to restore the people's confidence in the government after the erosion of trust during the apartheid era. His effusive and staid disposition proved to be an added advantage in the post-apartheid confidence-building process — without which the democratic government would have struggled to rebuild and sustain the confidence of the people. In the tradition of the ANC, leadership is a collaborative process. Each leader brings their strengths to bear, while simultaneously mitigating the shortcomings of their colleagues. One has to see oneself as a team player; indeed, as part of a collective with a shared outlook, roles and responsibilities. In this, Mabuza distinguished himself well, inspiring many around him. He was a man of his word, and I can personally vouch for his dependability. Once he had committed himself to something or a course of action, he stuck to it regardless of the cost or inconvenience to his personal wellbeing. He was also a man of few words. Yet, when he spoke, his voice carried authority and decisiveness. To be a team player also means that one should endeavour to be a unifier, a trait that Mabuza possessed in sufficient stock. In the run-up to the 2017 ANC national conference, and after, he was widely associated with the concept and practice of 'unity'. He appealed to Mpumalanga and all conference delegates to promote organisational unity and cohesion, in word and in deed. Unity is essential not only for the ANC. It is of critical importance to all South Africans, black and white. We sink or swim together. There is no better way to achieve national unity than to work towards the South Africa envisioned in the Freedom Charter. History is the work of the hands of more than an individual leader. However, it is nearly impossible to analyse the 2017 conference and its aftermath without the role of Mabuza, among other actors.
