Mpumalanga mourns ‘the Cat': Tributes continue to pour in for DD Mabuza
Mabuza passed away in hospital on July 3 at the age of 64, following a short illness.
'He was affectionately known as 'the Cat' after he referred to himself as such during a public address in front of the Legislature building. He jokingly said 'ngizwile ukuthi amagundane bekazenzela ngo-cheese (the rats were doing as they please with cheese) while the cat was away; now the cat is back',' Masina said.
ALSO READ: Mpumalanga ANC mourns DD Mabuza's passing: 'A great tree has fallen'
She described his death as a great loss. 'During his tenure as premier, Mabuza put important systems in place, ensuring Mpumalanga truly became the Place of the Rising Sun and that it works hard for its people. Mabuza will be sorely missed by every person who enjoys the privilege of shared experiences with and fond memories of him.
'His noble contribution will inspire the current and future generations of activists and leaders in governance and other aspects of life to pick up this baton and march forward,' said Masina.
The funeral service will be held on Saturday, July 12. There will be three memorial services for Mabuza that will take place in the three regions of the province on Thursday, July 10.
The family spokesperson, Desmond Moela, said other details about the funeral are still being discussed. According to him, the South African government will communicate its decision on how these proceedings will be run.
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