SA had no deputy president for 11 days until Monday night when David Dabede "DD" Mabuza ascended to the second-highest office in the land. Mabuza outwitted his political opponents at the ANC’s conference in December and was elected the party’s deputy president with an overwhelming majority — he received the most votes of all in the ANC’s top six positions. He moves into the Union Buildings two months after his strategic approach at the conference. Since President Cyril Ramaphosa took the oath of office two weeks ago, there has been fervent speculation about who would be his deputy president. His running mate at the party’s conference, Lindiwe Sisulu, was widely tipped for the position, but he appointed her minister of international relations and cooperation in Monday night’s reshuffle. Many who had been hoping that Ramaphosa would choose a female deputy president believed Naledi Pandor was the best candidate, but he placed her in the ministry of higher education and training. Mabuza...

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