Former Deputy President David Mabuza.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has expressed profound sadness following the passing of former Deputy President and former Premier of Mpumalanga, David Mabuza.
Mabuza aged 64, passed away today, Thursday, July 3, 2025, at a hospital after a brief illness.
In a statement released President Ramaphosa extended his deepest condolences to Mrs Mabuza, the late Deputy President’s wife, and their children, on behalf of the government and the nation.
He also offered his sympathies to Mabuza’s friends and the people of Mpumalanga, whom he served diligently as Premier from 2009 to 2018, and previously as a Member of the Executive Council across various portfolios.
The President’s thoughts were also with Mabuza’s comrades within the African National Congress, where he was elected as the organization’s Deputy President in December 2017.
President Ramaphosa highlighted Mabuza’s significant contributions during his tenure as Deputy President of the Republic. “During his service as Deputy President of the Republic, Deputy President Mabuza applied his leadership and mobilisation abilities to his role as the Leader of Government Business in Parliament; leading the South African National Aids Council; coordinating anti-poverty initiatives in the form of Public Employment Programmes, Integrated Service Delivery and Enterprise Development,” the President stated.
Mabuza also played a crucial role in representing South Africa on global platforms, consolidating relations between the nation and its closest partners. He chaired the Cabinet Committees of Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development (GSCID), as well as Justice, Crime-Prevention and Security (JCPS).
“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 and shape South Africa’s engagement with our continental compatriots and the international community in his role as Deputy President,” President Ramaphosa said.
