#ANC54: Getting to know new ANC deputy president David Mabuza

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Johannesburg - David Mabuza who has been elected as the Deputy President of the ANC, was seen as a dark horse during the run-up to the ANC elective conference, but who is he actually?

Mabuza currently serves as the Premier of Mpumalanga and has been in the role since 2009. He commands strong support in his province which played a big part in elevating him to power.

He has served in the Mpumalanga provincial government since 1994, first as a the MEC for Education then as the MEC of housing from 1999 to 2001.





Mabuza has also served as the MEC in a number of other portfolios including roads and transport, agriculture and administration.





From 2001 until 2004, he was a Member of Parliament.





Through his political influence and charm, Mabuza has served in the ANC Mpumalanga provincial executive committee (PEC) for over a decade.





To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Media watch the announcement that David Mabuza has been elected the new ANC deputy president. Video: Karen Sandison/ANA

In 2005, he was elected as deputy chairperson of the ANC in the province, which culminated in him being elected as chairperson in 2008.





In the run-up to the ANC's 2007 elective conference, Mabuza played a key role in Jacob Zuma's rise to presidency. He was part of a group of provincial leaders called the "Premier league" who were staunch supporters of Zuma.





Mabuza surprised many when he put his hand up for nomination for the position of deputy president.





His campaign was centered on "unity" of the ANC.





So prominent was the call for unity in his campaign that most of the branches in his province opted to vote to write "unity" on their nomination forms instead of nominating a candidate.





Earlier this year, Mabuza starting preaching about an end to factionalism, while he admitted that he was part of the rise of factionalism within the ANC.









Some of the controversial issues Mabuza has made headlines for include:





* In 2010 R14 million was allegedly stolen from his farm house.





* In 2015 he alleged that he was poisoned and had to take two months leave to recover from the attack.





* Mabuza has been accused of being behind political killings in Mpumalanga, especially of his opponents. The killing of of speaker Jimmy Mohlala in 2009 raised eyebrows and was allegedly linked to Mabuza.





* He filed a R10 million lawsuit against former ANC treasurer general Mathews Phosa for calling him a spy. The two don't get along.





Political Bureau