David Mabuza says he will run for ANC deputy president again

David Mabuza says he will run again for ANC deputy president at the party’s elective conference, but only with members’ blessing.

The ANC’s 55th national elective conference is set to take place next year.

This comes amid speculation about Mabuza’s health after the deputy president’s recent visit to Russia for medical treatment. Mabuza spent more than a month in Russia for what was referred to as a “medical consultation”.

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Mabuza has taken similar leave before, in October 2018. He has also rarely been seen at public engagements in the past few months, leading to rumours that he cannot perform his duties due to health concerns.

The SABC, however, on Thursday reported that Mabuza said he is “fit”.

“I have doctors that are taking good care of me,” he said.

Though Mabuza intends to stand for re-election, he reiterated that he would not do so without his party’s blessing.

“I never imposed myself in this position, I was elected – elected by the people, they said I must come and serve. It will be the same, I’ll never impose myself, if they say I must run, I’ll run again. If they say ‘no, we’ve got another candidate’, I’ll accept it because the will of the majority must always be respected,” he said.

Mabuza made these comments as he was doing door-to-door campaigning in Mamelodi, Pretoria, for the upcoming local government elections.

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