You Did Him Dirty’: Mantashe Slams Mpumalanga Factions Over Mabuza’s Failed Presidential Ambitions

At a memorial meant to honour his comrade, Gwede Mantashe didn’t hold back, calling out those who, in his words, led David Mabuza “off track.”

In a striking moment during former deputy president David Mabuza’s memorial service on Thursday, ANC national chairperson Gwede Mantashe tore into internal party factions from Mpumalanga, accusing them of manipulating Mabuza into launching a doomed presidential campaign at the party’s last elective conference.

Mantashe, known for his blunt political style, laid the blame squarely at the feet of those who encouraged Mabuza to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa, despite leadership pleading with him to stay on as deputy president.

“You misled DD yourselves, including people from right here in Mpumalanga,” Mantashe said, speaking to a packed audience. “You told him to contest for the presidency and that Paul [Mashatile] should be his deputy. You led him off track. We begged him to stay on as deputy, but you had already convinced him otherwise. You did him dirty.”

A Misguided Gamble?

Mantashe’s remarks peeled back the curtain on the tense power dynamics that played out behind closed doors during the ANC’s elective conference in 2022. At the time, Mabuza’s presidential bid came as a surprise to many, one that fizzled out quickly amid Ramaphosa’s overwhelming support.

Now, Mantashe is painting that failed campaign as a betrayal, not just of Mabuza, but of the unity they had all worked so hard to achieve.

A Political Ally, Then a Rival

It’s no secret that Mabuza, Mantashe, and Mashatile once stood on the same side of the political battlefield. Back in 2017, they carefully brokered a compromise to help deliver Ramaphosa the ANC presidency, strategically splitting Mpumalanga’s vote to block deeper rifts within the party, particularly between Ramaphosa and Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

The effort worked. Ramaphosa emerged victorious, and Mabuza was rewarded with the deputy presidency. But just a few years later, internal divisions and behind-the-scenes promises appear to have shifted the landscape.

A Legacy Cut Short

Mabuza, often called the “cat with nine lives” for his quiet survival in politics, died last Thursday in a Johannesburg hospital due to breathing complications. He had largely retreated from public life after leaving office in 2023 but reportedly remained engaged in political conversations until his final weeks.

Mantashe shared that the two had recently met in private to discuss ANC matters, a sign, perhaps, that Mabuza had not given up on influencing the party from behind the scenes.

Tensions at the Memorial

Mantashe’s speech also came in response to sharp criticism from a representative of SANTACO, who accused him of failing to back Mabuza’s ambitions for a second term as deputy president.

But the ANC chair was unapologetic, making it clear that national leadership supported Mabuza’s continued role and it was the internal factions in Mpumalanga that steered him toward a political dead-end.

Public Reaction: Sympathy and Speculation

On social media, many South Africans expressed sympathy for Mabuza, with posts like “They used him and tossed him,” trending alongside #RIPDD and #MabuzaMemorial.

Others questioned why Mabuza made the leap in the first place. “If he had the backing of leadership, why did he believe the branches?” one user asked. It’s a question that cuts to the heart of how fractured the ANC remains at provincial levels.

Final Farewell in Barberton

A Category 2 State Funeral will be held for Mabuza on Saturday in his hometown of Barberton. President Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the official eulogy.

In a time when the ANC faces both internal fractures and national scrutiny, the memorial has become more than just a goodbye, it’s a reflection of loyalty, miscalculation, and the human costs of political ambition.

As Mantashe put it, “We wanted him to stay. But others convinced him otherwise. And now, here we are saying goodbye.”