Of all those who were announced last night, David Mabuza is a name you should be adding to your South African political lexicon.

But where did he come from?

Well, before being announced as the ANC’s deputy president at the end of last year, Mabuza was the Premier of Mpumalanga.

Now bumped up to official second-in-command of the country, after Cyril Ramaphosa announced his new cabinet last night, Mabuza is one extremely controversial figure.

But let’s get to that later. For now, an intro from ENCA:

Born in 1960, David Dabede Mabuza – DD for short – was a teacher before he became involved in the workers’ movements in the 1980s. In 1984, he was appointed the Azanian Students’ Organisation secretary and was also active in at least two teachers’ unions in the 1980s and 1990s.

He refers to himself as “The Cat” and became the ANC’s regional chairperson in 1994. Four years later, he moved into the party’s Mpumalanga leadership from 1998 to 2006. He also served as an MP for some time.

He commands strong support in his province which played a big part in elevating him to power. When he put his hand up for nomination last year, he refused to outright support either Ramaphosa or Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.

Rather, his campaign was centred on “unity” of the ANC, reports IOL:

So prominent was the call for unity in his campaign that most of the branches in his province opted to write “unity” on their nomination forms instead of nominating a candidate.

Last year, Mabuza starting preaching about an end to factionalism, while admitting that he was part of the rise of factionalism within the ANC.

Okay, so you want the real scandals? Go go go:

In 2010, Mabuza opened a case with police alleging R14-million in cash was stolen from his house. However, the provincial organised crime unit insisted only R1,200 was stolen and Mabuza later reported only R4-million missing. The investigation into the case went nowhere.

In the same year, Mabuza was accused of “buying” his premiership by “gifting” R400,000 towards President Jacob Zuma’s 2008 wedding to Nompumelelo Ntuli. The Presidency did not deny the claim of the gift.

But that’s not even half of it:

One of the most chilling allegations against Mabuza is that he is behind a number of political killings in Mpumalanga.

One of them is the 2009 alleged fatal poisoning of a whistle-blower in tender corruption related to building the Mbombela Stadium for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Another alleged political hit includes that of Mbombela speaker Jimmy Mohlala, who was gunned down in 2009, also after speaking out against World Cup corruption.

And in a similar vein, in January 2010, the head of communications of Mpumalanga’s Department of Sports, Culture and Recreation, Sammy Mpatlanyane, was fatally shot at his Nelspruit home.

There are also claims Mabuza promised people money and jobs for suppressing the allegations over political assassinations.

Recently, Mabuza was accused of operating a personal militia that intimidated ANC delegates during branch general meetings in the lead-up to the party’s December 2017 elective conference. It came after a video went public, showing a group of men, allegedly ANC members loyal to him, firing live ammunition into the air.

So we have a president who played a role in the slaughter of a number of miners, and a deputy who has used violence to intimidate and kill whistle-blowers? Oh dear.

Of course, the DA is not impressed, calling the appointment of David Mabuza as the country’s deputy president “a danger to our country,” reports News24:

The problem with the country was “the ANC itself”, said leader of the opposition Mmusi Maimane.

“The ministers who make up Ramaphosa’s compromised and partially captured cabinet show what we’ve known all along – it’s about the ANC and connected cadres first, and the interests of South Africa second,” he said.

“The cabinet remains filled with compromised ministers, Gupta loyalists, and corruption accused. The quicker we remove the ANC from government, the quicker our nation will reach its true potential.”

And he’s right about that.

While many South Africans were looking to Ramaphosa to magically wipe away all those connected to the State Capture that has depleted our reserves, it’s clear he hasn’t got the power just yet.

Some say he is playing the waiting game, so here’s hoping they’re right.

Here’s a look at those who’s in – thanks to The Citizen:

Communications: Ms Nomvula Mokonyane
Energy: Mr Jeff Radebe
Higher Education and Training: Ms Naledi Pandor
Home Affairs: Mr Malusi Gigaba
Human Settlements: Ms Nomaindia Mfeketo
International Relations and Cooperation: Ms Lindiwe Sisulu
Mineral Resources: Mr Gwede Mantashe
Police: Mr Bheki Cele
Public Enterprises: Mr Pravin Gordhan
Public Service and Administration: Ms Ayanda Dlodlo
Public Works: Mr Thulas Nxesi
Rural Development and Land Reform: Ms Maite Nkoana-Mashabane
Science and Technology: Ms Nkhensani Kubayi-Ngubane
Social Development: Ms Susan Shabangu
Sport and Recreation: Ms Tokozile Xasa
State Security: Ms Dipuo Letsatsi-Duba
The Presidency: Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation: Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
The Presidency: Women: Ms Bathabile Dlamini [How offensive!]
Tourism: Mr Derek Hanekom
Transport: Dr Blade Nzimande
Water and Sanitation: Mr Gugile Nkwinti

With respect to Deputy Ministers, Ramaphosa made the following changes:

Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: Mr Sfiso Buthelezi
Communications: Ms Pinky Kekana
Finance: Mr Mondli Gungubele
Public Service and Administration: Dr Chana Pilane-Majeke
Small Business Development: Mr Cassel Mathale

“The positions of Deputy Minister of Public Enterprises and Deputy Minister in the Presidency for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation will remain vacant,” he said.

Pending the completion of their swearing-in as Members of the National Assembly, he said he intended to further appoint:

Mr David Mabuza as the Deputy President of the Republic
Dr Zweli Mkhize as Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs
Mr Nhlanhla Nene as Minister of Finance
Ms Reginah Mhaule as Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation

The new Ministers and Deputy Ministers will be sworn in in Cape Town tomorrow:

“I wish to express my appreciation to all outgoing Ministers and Deputy Ministers for their service to government and to the people of South Africa.”

Then, there are those who have been fired:

Mosebenzi Zwane (mineral resources)
Lynne Brown (public enterprises)
Joe Maswanganyi (transport)
Des van Rooyen (cooperative governance and traditional affairs)
Faith Muthambi (public service and administration)
David Mahlobo (energy)
Hlengiwe Mkhize (higher education)
Fikile Mbalula (police)
Nkosinathi Nhleko (public works)
Bongani Bongo (state security)

Small celebrations there, though.

You can watch the full speech below:

South Africa has still been promised a serious reshuffle, once Ramaphosa and his team have finished with the review of the configuration, size and number of national Ministries and Departments.

Holding thumbs it’s sooner rather than later.

In the meantime, good luck, Cyril.

[source:enca&iol&news24&citizen]