David Mabuza Remembered as the Quiet Force Who Said No to Capture

Once seen as a kingmaker in ANC politics, the late deputy president’s principled stand against the Guptas now defines his legacy.

When former Deputy President David “DD” Mabuza passed away, tributes from across the political spectrum flooded in. Some remembered him as a career politician and strategist. Others, more personally, recalled his quiet charm, his humility, and his firm resistance to becoming anyone’s puppet, not even the Guptas’.

But perhaps Mabuza’s greatest legacy is this: he stopped a second Zuma takeover before it could begin.

The man who changed the ANC’s future

In late 2017, as the ANC’s national conference loomed, Mabuza was still aligned with Jacob Zuma’s faction, backing Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to succeed her ex-husband as ANC president.

But in a dramatic political twist, Mabuza switched allegiances at the eleventh hour, throwing his substantial Mpumalanga support base behind Cyril Ramaphosa. That move tipped the scales, changing the future of the ANC  and, arguably, the country.

For Zuma loyalists, it was betrayal. For many others, it was relief. Analysts say a Dlamini-Zuma victory would have prolonged the state capture era, given her open ties to the Gupta family and their empire of influence.

A principled refusal in the era of state capture

Long before the switch, Mabuza had already taken a stand that set him apart from other provincial premiers.

When the Guptas, via The New Age newspaper and ANN7 TV channel, sought to cosy up to provincial governments, most complied. Gauteng under Nomvula Mokonyane, Free State under Ace Magashule, and North West under Supra Mahumapelo were among those who eagerly dished out advertising budgets and enjoyed flattering media coverage.

But Mabuza refused.

Despite initial plans to advertise in The New Age, he cancelled the deal upon learning the ads were meant to prop up Gupta-owned media. This act of defiance earned him a spot on the Guptas’ blacklist, alongside then Western Cape premier Helen Zille, who had also rejected their business breakfasts.

This was not just a bureaucratic decision, it was a political line in the sand. Mabuza’s resistance signalled that not every politician could be bought, even at the height of state capture.

From student activist to deputy president

Born in Phola, eMalahleni, Mabuza’s political journey began as a teacher and activist in the turbulent 1970s and ’80s. He became Mpumalanga’s first education MEC post-apartheid, and later, premier of the province. Alongside stalwarts like Mathews Phosa and January Masilela, Mabuza helped raise Mpumalanga’s national profile.

By the time he became Deputy President of South Africa, Mabuza was no longer just a provincial strongman — he was a key national figure, albeit one who preferred to wield power quietly.

Tributes and reflections

The trade union federation Cosatu praised Mabuza’s lifelong commitment to public service. Parliamentary coordinator Matthew Parks reflected on Mabuza’s legacy as “a leader who gave much to the nation, from his days as a student activist to his role in stabilising national politics.”

His humility, said Cosatu, never faded, not even as he reached the deputy presidency.

A man who walked away from the easy path

David Mabuza’s legacy isn’t built on grand speeches or flashy headlines. It rests on decisions made quietly, sometimes in private, but with immense public consequence.

In an era where power was too often sold to the highest bidder, Mabuza chose not to be captured. That single choice changed the political landscape of South Africa.

History will remember “DD” not just for the positions he held, but for the corruption he resisted, the party he helped redirect, and the humble leadership he brought to every role he held.

As the ANC, the country, and the people of Mpumalanga reflect on his passing, one thing is clear: David Mabuza walked away from power when it became poison and that takes more courage than we often give credit for.

{Source: The Citizen}

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