David Mabuza
A shrewd political operator from Mpumalanga who rose to become South Africa's deputy president, navigating the turbulent era of state capture.
1960–2025 (age 65)·Deputy President of South Africa from 2018 to 2023·Birthday: August 25·Baby Boomers
Biography
David Mabuza's political journey was forged in the heartland of Mpumalanga province. A former teacher, he entered politics through the ANC's ranks, building a formidable power base that earned him the nickname 'The Cat' for his perceived political agility and survival instincts. His tenure as Premier of Mpumalanga from 2009 to 2018 was marked by both development initiatives and persistent controversy, with critics linking his administration to patronage networks. His strategic alignment with Jacob Zuma proved pivotal, culminating in his election as ANC Deputy President in 2017, a position that automatically made him the country's Deputy President under Cyril Ramaphosa. His five years in the national deputy presidency were characterized by a low public profile and frequent medical absences, leading to speculation about his influence. He resigned in 2023, leaving a complex legacy as a key figure in the ANC's factional battles during a critical period.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
David was born in 1960, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1960
#1 Movie
Swiss Family Robinson
Best Picture
The Apartment
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1960Born
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1965Started school
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1973Became a teenager
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Could drive
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1978Could vote
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1981Turned 21
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1990Turned 30
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
2000Turned 40
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2010Turned 50
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 60
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2025Died at 65
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
Key Achievements
- Served as the Deputy President of South Africa from 2018 to 2023, the second-highest office in the country.
- Elected Deputy President of the African National Congress in 2017, a key leadership role within the ruling party.
- Governed as the Premier of Mpumalanga province for nearly a decade, from 2009 to 2018.
- Served as a Member of Parliament representing the ANC from 2018 until his resignation.
Did You Know?
He was commonly known by his initials, DD Mabuza.
Before politics, he worked as a mathematics and physical science teacher.
His political nickname was 'The Cat', often interpreted as a reference to his political maneuvering.
He was a prominent figure in the ANC's Mpumalanga province, a significant region for party support.
“The ANC is the only organization that can lead our people to a better life.”
