Jeff Radebe urges ANC members to unite in memory of David Mabuza

KwaZulu-Natal ANC convener Jeff Radebe has called on party members to honour the late former deputy president David Mabuza by striving for unity.

Speaking at Mabuza’s provincial memorial service in Durban on Thursday afternoon, Radebe reminded the ANC supporters that the party was founded on the unity of African people and urged supporters to honour the late Mabuza by uniting all people, starting at their homes, uniting siblings and neighbours.

"Comrades, when the ANC was founded in 1912, it preached unity; therefore, let's go back to the ANC’s number one value in honour of comrade Mabuza," said Radebe.

He said he interacted with Mabuza many times and was deployed by the ANC when Mabuza was elected as the provincial chairperson in Mpumalanga.

He hailed his contributions as a teacher and a school principal, saying the ANC always emphasised education and made it a number one priority with the biggest budget in the country.

Speaking on behalf of the Women's League in the province, senior member Bongi Sithole-Moloi said Mabuza, as a Mpumalanga provincial chairperson, was the first to design ANC-branded gazebos and sound-mounted branded ANC vans, which he always lent to KwaZulu-Natal leadership whenever there were elections and by-elections.

Mabuza, who was 64 years old at the time of his death last week, was born and raised in Mpumalanga. Besides being a teacher and principal, he obtained a Psychology degree.

He will be buried in his province on Saturday. He has been honoured with a category 2 state funeral, and President Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver the eulogy.

Mabuza was the first Education MEC in Mpumalanga before being appointed as a premier. In 2017, he was elected as the ANC deputy president alongside Ramaphosa as the president. He served as deputy president of the country from 2019 to 2023. He did not contest any position in the 55th elective conference in 2022 and subsequently resigned as the country's deputy president.

In a statement, party Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula described Mabuza as someone who dedicated his life to the service of the people of South Africa.

"From his days in the Struggle against apartheid to his leadership as premier of Mpumalanga and later as deputy president, he was a committed cadre who carried the values of unity, discipline, and transformation.

"On behalf of the African National Congress, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, comrades, and the people of South Africa.

"We have lost a patriot, a freedom fighter, and a leader who served with humility and conviction," said Mbalula.

willem.phungula@inl.co.za