David Mabuza, the former deputy president of South Africa who rose from union activism to the upper echelons of power before his career was clouded by corruption allegations, has died in Mpumalanga Province. He was 64.
President Cyril Ramaphosa, under whom Mabuza served before resigning two years ago, confirmed his death in a statement on Thursday. Mabuza died at a hospital in his home province after a short battle with an undisclosed illness, Ramaphosa said.
“We are saddened today by the loss of a leader who was grounded in activism at the early stages of his political career and who came to lead our nation,” Ramaphosa said, noting that Mabuza helped “shape South Africa’s engagement with our continental compatriots and the international community.”
Mabuza, a skilled political operator, played a critical role in elevating Ramaphosa to the presidency, leveraging his influence in the African National Congress (ANC) to build alliances that shifted the balance of power. However, his legacy remained mixed, marred by persistent allegations of corruption and misuse of state resources during his tenure as Mpumalanga premier and within the ANC.
Mabuza remained a significant, if controversial, figure in South African politics, with his death marking the end of a chapter for the ANC as the party navigates its future amid economic challenges and demands for accountability.
