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The South African Communist Party (SACP) has received with profound sorrow the news of the demise of former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, Comrade David Dabede Mabuza, who was also the former Deputy President of our alliance partner, the African National Congress (ANC).

The SACP conveys its message of heartfelt condolences to his family for the loss. We also send our condolences to the ANC, the entire liberation movement and the people of South Africa.

Affectionately known as "DD" among his comrades, Comrade Mabuza has a long history of struggle for the emancipation of the people of South Africa, first against the apartheid system and, following our 1994 democratic breakthrough, made important contributions to the development of South Africa, primarily through the progressive movement.

Hailing from a largely rural province, Mpumalanga, his working-class background and activism, first as a student and later as a school teacher, enabled him to play an active role in the unionisation of teachers in South Africa, defying the apartheid system in its relentless quest to divide and rule over the masses of our country through its racist policies. In this quest, he went on to serve as the Chairperson of the National Education Union of South Africa from 1986 to 1988.

The union later merged with other unions such as the Progressive Teachers' Union, the Mamelodi Teachers' Union, the Progressive Teachers' League, the Western Cape Teachers' Union and the East London Teachers Union to form the South African Democratic Teachers Union, wherein he served as its chairperson, following this merger. As the leader of the ANC, Comrade Mabuza ascended through the ranks, ultimately becoming its Deputy President.

In memory of Comrade David Mabuza, the SACP calls for the unity of workers across union and federation affiliations towards building a true socialist movement for the workers and the poor. The SACP reiterates the call for unity of the progressive forces, in addition to working-class unity, in particular to take forward the work done by all our liberation stalwarts in championing the struggle for total liberation of the oppressed.

Issued by the South African Communist Party