DAVID MABUZA has confirmed his resignation as Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa in order to make way for the newly elected ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile.
Mabuza said President Cyril Ramaphosa has already accepted his resignation, adding that he will be making the announcement soon during his much-anticipated Cabinet reshuffle in the next coming days.
Mabuza, who has been absent from several ANC and government gatherings since December, was speaking at his brother’s funeral service in Mpumalanga.
At the party’s 55th elective conference held in Nasrec, Johannesburg, Mabuza declined a nomination from the floor for another term as the Deputy President of the ANC.
“I have told the President [Cyril Ramaphosa] that I am opening the way for the one who was elected by conference as ANC Deputy President. I see he [Mashatile] is moving quite quickly, and so, I am also in a hurry to quit in order to make space for him to take over as soon as possible,” Mabuza told mourners.
“The president will say that Mabuza has resigned. He and I had an agreement. I said I would respect the president until I leave, so I have left, and I think those left behind will continue to respect him.”
On Sunday, Presidency spokesperson Vincent Magwenya said the president has asked Mabuza to stay on as Deputy President for now until the modalities of his departure and transition processes were finalised.
“Deputy President Mabuza has expressed his desire to step down from his position, following the outcome of the governing party’s leadership elections in December 2022,” said Magwenya.
“However, President Ramaphosa has requested the deputy president to remain in his role until such time the modalities of his departure and transition have been finalised.”
Mashatile is expected to be sworn-in as an ANC member of Parliament following the resignation of ANC Member of Parliament, Tshlilidzi Munyai, on Wednesday.
In a media statement on Sunday, the ANC’s Parliamentary caucus welcomed Mashatile, Deputy Secretary-General (DSG) Maropene Ramokgopa, Sihle Zikalala and Parks Tau as new Members of Parliament.
The four are expected to take their oaths and affirmations as new MPs at the Speaker’s Office on Monday 12h00.
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