Deputy President David Mabuza has informed President Cyril Ramaphosa of his intention to resign.
Mabuza’s office confirmed that he has offered to resign from his government position to align party and state roles, effectively clearing way for his ANC colleague, Paul Mashatile, to move into the Union Buildings.
The Presidency had denied the move by Mabuza- who failed to make it onto the ballot for the position of party deputy president, ahead of the ANC elective conference in December- dismissing it as rumours.
Rumours circulated on social media late on Wednesday following weeks of speculation about what would happen to Mabuza after he declined nomination to contest his position as deputy president in December.
After a week of rumours that he had resigned, Mabuza’s office on Friday, January 27, said in a statement that he has “taken a considered view that it is important to align party leadership roles with government responsibilities”.
Mabuza, affectionately known as ‘The Cat’, surprised many when he showed no interest to compete for the executive positions at the party’s elective conference.
He was previously touted as the man who would take over from Ramaphosa.
However, speculation that he would surprise many by emerging president was dealt a huge blow at the showdown in Nasrec, where former treasurer-general Paul Mashatile emerged victorious and took over from him.
Gauteng Premier Panyaza Lesufi this week confirmed that Mashatile would be moving to parliament on the Gauteng-provincial-to-national list, along with MPL Parks Tau, who also appears set to join the cabinet after the impending cabinet reshuffle.
Ramaphosa is expected to fill Cabinet vacancies in the transport and public services and administration portfolios, and to replace members of his executive who did not make it on to the party’s national executive committee (NEC) in December.
ANC sources said Mabuza’s resignation would be discussed at an NEC meeting and lekgotla this weekend, which are being held in preparation for a two-day cabinet lekgotla on Wednesday.
Source: News24, IOL, Mail&Guardian, Daily Maverick, image from Twitter: @thandograham