David Mabuza has resigned as a member of parliament in a move that effectively ended his tenure as South Africa’s deputy president in a move seen as paving the way for the announcement of a new cabinet by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The resignation followed a request to Ramaphosa by Mabuza in January to step down from the position of deputy president to pave way for the appointment of Paul Mashatile as deputy president after his election as vice president of the governing African National Congress at the end of 2022.
Announcing the resignation on Wednesday, Ramaphosa thanked Mabuza for his exceptional service to the country over the last five years, saying the deputy president had served South Africa “with dedication”.
“I am grateful for the support he has provided to me throughout his term and for the leadership he has provided to the work of government,” Ramaphosa said.
He said Mabuza’s contribution has been valued “by the many constituencies with which he has engaged, including traditional leaders, military veterans, civil society formations and international bodies.”
“As Leader of Government Business, he has ably managed the relationship between the Executive and Parliament, working to ensure that the transformative legislative programme of this administration is advanced,” he said.
Analysts believe the resignation signals the imminent announcement of a new cabinet by Ramaphosa in the next few days.
JN/APA