ANC’s ‘The Cat’ David Mabuza Dies at 64

By The Saff Reporter

David Mabuza, the former Deputy President of South Africa and long-time African National Congress (ANC) power broker, has died at the age of 64, his family confirmed Thursday.

Mabuza, a former teacher who rose through provincial politics to become one of the most influential; and controversial, figures in the ANC, reportedly passed away in hospital. The cause of death has not yet been disclosed.

Nicknamed “The Cat” for his political survival skills, Mabuza served as South Africa’s deputy president under Cyril Ramaphosa from 2018 until 2023 and held the ANC’s deputy presidency between 2017 and 2022. He was widely credited with playing kingmaker when he threw his faction’s support behind Ramaphosa at the 2017 party conference, helping him narrowly defeat former President Jacob Zuma’s preferred successor, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Before his time at the Union Buildings, Mabuza governed Mpumalanga province for nearly a decade, from 2009 to 2018. That era was dogged by persistent allegations of corruption, political patronage, and irregular tenders linked to the 2010 FIFA World Cup, claims he always denied but which tarnished his image among reformists within the ANC.

His unexpected withdrawal from active politics in 2023, declining to stand for re-election as Ramaphosa’s deputy, marked a sharp retreat for a man once seen as a potential presidential contender himself. He made only a brief reappearance during the 2024 national elections, campaigning in Mpumalanga and his home region of Barberton.

Mabuza’s political career was often mired in secrecy and speculation. In recent years, he spent extended periods abroad seeking medical treatment, fueling intrigue over both his health and his political future.

His death comes at a turbulent moment for the ANC, which is grappling with historic electoral losses and bruising coalition talks following the 2024 vote. Tributes have begun pouring in from party veterans and opponents alike, acknowledging Mabuza’s pivotal, if sometimes divisive, role in shaping the country’s post-apartheid politics.

Details of memorial arrangements and official tributes are expected in the coming days. 

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