He stepped back, not away, that’s how Deputy President Paul Mashatile remembered the late David Mabuza — a principled man, a leader who would never betray the ANC, even when he quietly stepped out of the spotlight.
Speaking in a heartfelt tribute, Mashatile described Mabuza not only as a former deputy president, but as a man who knew when to lead and when to support.
Mabuza died on Thursday after experiencing breathing difficulties.
Mashatile visited Mabuza’s home in Johannesburg on Friday to convey his condolences.
“I think it was a correct thing for him to step back and be able to only play a role when he’s required to do so.
“It is not like he was abandoning the ANC or our people, but he felt that there is a new Deputy President who is going to do the work, and he can only support whenever he’s needed.
“So we always were in touch with him, and that’s why when we called him for the election campaign, he immediately responded and went on the ground,” he said.
That’s the kind of calibre of man that he was, that he didn’t want to, you know, try to rule from the grave or do anything like that, Mashatile added.
He stated that Mabuza was not disruptive and would always be supportive even in the party’s activities.
“The President [Cyril Ramaphosa] would consult him and when the ANC said, please come help with the election campaign, he immediately came,” Mashatile said.
He further urged the ANC members to honour Mabuza and follow in his footsteps in the commitment to serving the people.
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Politics
