By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Deputy President David Mabuza has confirmed that he has tendered his resignation to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mabuza spoke for the first time publicly on Saturday at a family funeral in Mpumalanga, telling congregants that he had informed Ramaphosa that he has resigned as deputy president of the country.
Mabuza said he has to make space for Paul Mashatile because he was elected to the conference. He also confirmed that he had spoken to Ramaphosa about his resignation and the two had an agreement that he would resign.
“I am making space for the one elected at the conference because I can see he (Mashatile) is also making a few moves. So now I am also in a rush to give them space. I spoke to the president and told him I would step down,” Mabuza said.
“The president will say that Mabuza has resigned. He (Ramaphosa) and I had an agreement. I said I would respect the president until I leave, so I have left and I think those left will continue to respect him.
Mabuza had, for the past weeks, distanced himself from government and political ANC gatherings.
He was not present at the ANC’s 8 January celebrations in Bloemfontein, nor was he present at an ANC national executive committee lekgotla.
On Thursday, he sent an apology citing his family funeral as the reason he could not attend a two-day Cabinet lekgotla at the presidential guesthouse in Pretoria.
Mabuza’s public confirmation of his desire to depart the presidency follows a series of political events which saw Mashatile confirmed as an ANC member of parliament (MP) earlier this week.
Parliament announced this week that new MPs will be sworn-in on Monday. ’This will be ahead of the State of the Nation Address on Thursday.
It is expected that Mashatile will be joined by former premier and MEC in KwaZulu-Natal Sihle Zikalala and another former MEC in Gauteng, Parks Tau, as new ANC MPs.