South African Deputy President David Mabuza Resigns Amidst Controversies

David Mabuza, South Africa's controversial deputy president, has resigned from his position, according to an official statement by the country's president, Cyril Ramaphosa. The announcement was made on Wednesday, with President Ramaphosa acknowledging Mabuza's "exceptional service to the country over the last five years" in the same statement.

The development comes as President Ramaphosa prepares to make changes to his cabinet in response to shifts within the African National Congress (ANC). Additionally, the president will appoint a new minister of electricity, a position created in February 2023 to help the country deal with frequent power outages that have contributed to a "state of disaster."

In 2019, Mabuza became deputy president of South Africa, rising from a little-known union leader in a remote province to the ANC's second-in-command. As deputy president, he focused on land reforms and compensation for military veterans, though he remained relatively unknown to many South African voters.

Despite his powerful political position, Mabuza's political power had been waning in recent years. At the ANC conference in December 2022, he was defeated in his bid for a second term as the party's deputy president. His resignation marks the end of a controversial tenure, which was marred by numerous scandals and controversies.