THE Democratic Alliance (DA) says it’s going to write to Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli to seek a full report of the whereabouts of Deputy President David Mabuza.
Acting Minister in the Presidency, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, said this week that Mabuza was still in Russia where he is receiving medical attention.
Mabuza, affectionately known as ‘The Cat’ in political circles, has a reputation as a canny operator with a knack for getting out of tight corners.
He was last seen in public engagement on 15 June, where he was responding to questions from delegates of the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) during a virtual plenary sitting.
The deputy president previously received medical treatment in Russia at least twice before in 2015 and 2018 after he was allegedly poisoned during his time as Mpumalanga Premier.
“We will request that Deputy Speaker Tsenoli seek a full report of the Deputy President’s whereabouts; the cost of his extended stay in Russia; whether the taxpayer is footing the bill; when he plans to return to South Africa; and who is filling his shoes in his capacity as Deputy President, the head of government business, chairperson of the special cabinet committee on Eskom and the chair of the inter-ministerial committee on vaccines,” according to a statement issued by Solly Malatsi, DA’s MP and the Shadow Minister for the Presidency.
Malatsi said this report must be tabled and presented to Parliament as a matter of urgency, with an opportunity for members of Parliament to ask questions thereon.
“While the Deputy President is entitled to his privacy regarding his medical condition, it is in the public interest to establish the impact of his continued absence from his official duties,” said Malatsi.
“It is very suspicious that the Deputy President has been in Russia for a month for medical treatment, yet there has been no update on his health or his expected return.”
Malatsi said had David Mabuza not been so scarce since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, South Africa might have only wished him a speedy recovery, but “wide-spread ANC corruption has taught everyone that even the most innocent seeming doctor’s visit needs to be scrutinized”.
Last year in September, concerns were raised over the deputy president’s public absence, especially during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
His office denied the reports that his health was not in a good state.
The deputy president’s office said: “We would like to assure South Africans that the deputy president is at home and well. Anything contrary to this is a malicious and unfortunate rumour.”
There have also been persistent rumours that Mabuza was not doing well, a possibility for the reason for his absence in public.
The long-time ANC Mpumalanga chairman positioned himself and his province perfectly as kingmakers of the party’s 54th conference.
He beat his opponent, Lindiwe Sisulu, with 2,538 votes to her 2,159.
He played the game so deftly that he obtained the highest number of votes for the top six positions in the party — more even than new ANC president Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mabuza’s position as deputy president is key to service delivery and developmental goals of the South African government.
He chairs the Cabinet Committees of Governance, State Capacity and Institutional Development (GSCID) as well as the Justice, Crime-Prevention and Security (JCPS).
His other key tasks for the term of government between 2019 and 2024 include:
- Leader of Government Business in Parliament
- Leading Government efforts to fast-track Land Reform and the coordination of Government programmes to accelerate Land Reform and agricultural support
- Assist the President to stimulate and support Rural and Township economies through implementing empowerment models
- Assist the President in the implementation of Rapid Response interventions on Service Delivery and Trouble-shooting in service delivery hotspots
- Coordinate Anti-Poverty initiatives through, amongst others, Public Employment Programmes, Integrated Service Delivery and Enterprise Development
- Leading the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC) and the country’s integrated response to the challenges of HIV and AIDS
- Assist the President in efforts towards building a better Africa
- Support in Investment Facilitation and Trade Promotion
- Leading the National Human Resource Development Council and fostering collaboration between government and social partners towards addressing the shortage of skills in critical sectors of the economy, and
- Promoting Social Cohesion Initiatives including being patron of the Moral Regeneration Movement.
- Inside Politics
