Mpumalanga’s final farewell for former deputy president DD Mabuza | Mpumalanga News

The family of the former deputy president, David Dabede Mabuza, shared their fond memories and grief over his death during his state funeral at Hoërskool Bergvlam on Saturday, July 12.

In a message that was read by Nomsa Mnisi, his wife, Nonhlanhla Mabuza, said she could still remember the day that they met.

“I hope you can hear me, because you always said: ‘Death is not final, but rather a transition to the spiritual world’.”

She said their honeymoon phase was short-lived, as she soon realised that she was sharing him with a greater calling.

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“Serving the people of South Africa was your first love. Like any young wife, I struggled with that at first. But when I saw the joy and impact you brought to the people of Mpumalanga, I had to embrace my place beside you as your partner, with love and pride. The love you had for your children was tough but empowering.”

She said he touched so many lives profoundly. When he left for his regular medical check-ups, she didn’t worry because he always came home to them. “I remember our last call. And an hour later they called me and told me they were taking him to hospital. I will carry on with the rest of the journey with the strength he left behind.”

His children described him as a man who was passionate about education and said he spoke of it constantly as a tool of success and a foundation for freedom.

Angela, his daughter, said their father believed in them long before they believed in themselves.

“There is so much that we are going to miss – his presence, the way his entry changed the room, the sound of his footsteps.”

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She said he was never casual about parenting.

“Papa, it’s now your time to rest. Finally, you get to have the peace that you deserve.”

Zandile, his younger sister, said her brother taught her how to be a strong woman and he taught her ubuntu.

She said that as a family they accepted that their brother’s heart belonged to the country. “My brother, since I am the strongest in the family, I will be strong on their behalf and help them heal from the wound you left behind. Rest in peace, our hero.”

 

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The president of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, delivered the eulogy. He described Mabuza as a revered leader, not only in his home province of Mpumalanga, but throughout the country as well.

“He was a man of sharp intellect, deep pragmatism and quiet resolve. To some, he was the ‘cat with nine lives’, resilient in the face of political storms.

“But to many in his home province and beyond, he was a source of support, a provider of opportunities, and a champion for rural development and education,” he said.

Ramaphosa added that Mabuza will be remembered as a unifier.

After the state funeral, the family held a private funeral service in Barberton.