By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former Deputy President David Dabede Mabuza will be buried on Saturday, 12 July, in Barberton, Mpumalanga, according to his family.
Mabuza died on Thursday following a short illness at the age of 64.
A teacher by profession, Mabuza perfected the art of power politics once the Afican National Congress (ANC) came to power and when provinces became fiefdoms for regional politicians.
He served as South Africa’s deputy president from February 2018 until his resignation in February 2023.
Speaking to the media, family spokesperson Desmond Moela announced that the family had finalised the date for the funeral.
He stated that “many activities will happen from tomorrow up until on Saturday” and confirmed that the funeral would be held on 12 July.
“We can now confirm on behalf of the family that of course the funeral of the late deputy president of the Republic of South Africa and that of the ANC will take place this weekend on Saturday, the 12th of July.”
ANC Mpumalanga Deputy Chairperson Speedy Mashilo shared that memorial services for Mabuza are scheduled to take place on next week Thursday.
“The provincial executive committee met with the family of Mabuza. We are quite happy with the process,” he said.
According to Mashilo, the memorials will be held across all three regions of the province.
A delegation from the national executive committee of the ANC, led by first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane, visited his home in Barberton, to offer condolences to the bereaved family.
Mokonyane said, she had spoken with Mabuza two weeks before his passing and that he was focused on helping the party recover.
“[There was] no condemnation unless some people met with somebody who falsified himself as David Mabuza.”
“DD never spoke outside of the organisation. DD never came out to criticise an organisation that at the end of the day he must stand in front of the public and make people to believe in.
“And that’s the strength of his position and how he operates as a man who always wanted to unite the ANC, to inspire people and give hope to the people, “Mokonyane said.
Mabuza contested and won the deputy presidency by throwing in his lot with the reformist Cyril Ramaphosa in 2017, who, with The Cat’s support, then trounced Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, an RET (radical economic transformation) candidate.
Mabuza was born in Phola, Mpumalanga, on 25 August 1960 — is survived by his wife Nonhlanhla Patience Mnisi and his children.