Deputy president David Mabuza has formally resigned as an MP, clearing the way for President Cyril Ramaphosa to appoint a new second-in-command as part of his expected cabinet reshuffle.
The resignation brings to an end of Mabuza's five-year tenure as the deputy president of the country.
Mabuza in February publicly announced that he intends to step down to make way for ANC Deputy President Paul Mashatile to take over the reins. However, shortly after the public announcement by Mabuza, Ramaphosa’s office confirmed that the president had requested Mabuza to remain in his position until his departure is finalised.
“The deputy president has undertaken the responsibilities of his office 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 in a statement, confirming Business Day’s earlier story.
This is the second resignation this week in the ANC’s parliamentary caucus as Ramaphosa’s reshuffle edges closer.
On Tuesday, finance minister Enoch Godongwana was sworn in as an MP, replacing ANC MP Mike Basopu from the Eastern Cape, who resigned on Monday. That left a vacancy within the ANC’s parliamentary caucus, paving the way for Godongwana to be an MP in anticipation that Ramaphosa will appoint a minister of electricity who is not an MP.
Godongwana — who was appointed in 2021 as former finance minister Tito Mboweni’s replacement — is one of two nonparliamentary cabinet members, the other being trade, industry & competition minister Ebrahim Patel. By law, the president is permitted to appoint a maximum of two people to his executive who are not MPs.
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