Deputy President David Mabuza resigns as MP, places urgency on cabinet reshuffle

Deputy President David Mabuza has resigned as an MP.

TimesLIVE Premium can reveal that Mabuza sent his letter of resignation to the speaker of the National Assembly on Tuesday evening.

South Africa now has no deputy president. It signals an imminent cabinet reshuffle sooner than expected.

The president must select the deputy president from among the members of the National Assembly.

ANC National Assembly chief whip Pemmy Majodina confirmed Mabuza’s resignation to TimesLIVE Premium.

“Yes, he resigned yesterday [Tuesday], letter came to me and speaker as per the rule,” Majodina said in a text message.

This comes weeks after Mabuza requested President Cyril Ramaphosa to relieve him of his duties as the deputy president.

Ramaphosa is said to have asked Mabuza to delay his departure from the Union Buildings to allow for a smooth transition.

Mabuza, however, told mourners at his brother’s funeral last month he had already resigned and Ramaphosa would make an announcement soon. He said this was to allow newly elected ANC deputy president Paul Mashatile to take over. Mashatile was sworn in as an MP earlier this month, with three other rumoured new cabinet ministers.

TimesLIVE on Tuesday reported Ramaphosa is likely to appoint a minister of electricity who is not an MP during his cabinet reshuffle.

This as finance minister Enoch Godongwana was sworn in as an MP.

Ramaphosa appointed Godongwana finance minister despite him not being an MP by using his presidential prerogative that allows him to appoint four non-MPs to his executive.