GRAEME HOSKEN: David Mabuza - a mover, a shaker and a threat
'Mabuza’s appointment illustrates that no president makes full cabinet appointments of his own choosing'
President Cyril Ramaphosa has been “hung, drawn and quartered with his heart cut out while alive” in his forced marriage to his deputy – controversial politician David Mabuza. Known as “DD”, Mabuza was, until Monday night, premier of Mpumalanga and also the recently elected deputy president of the ruling party.It was the votes from this powerful ANC province that ultimately helped Ramaphosa succeed Jacob Zuma as president. Mabuza’s reward: Elevation to the position of South Africa’s second most powerful man, an appointment political analysts say Ramaphosa would have fought tooth and nail. Political expert Aubrey Matshiqi said from the look of “terrible pain” on Ramaphosa’s face when he left the holding room shortly before announcing the cabinet reshuffle, one could see certain appointments were forced on him. “One of those was Mabuza. Ramaphosa’s look says something about the relationship between the party and the state ... even if Ramaphosa did not want to appoint [Mabuza], it’s a ...
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