ONLY IN | The presidency says that Ramaphosa asks Mabuza to stay “until the exit modalities are finalized”

Vice President David Mabuza has resigned.

• President Cyril Ramaphosa’s spokesman, Vincent Magwenya, confirmed on Sunday that Vice President David Mabuza had been asked to remain in his post until modalities on his departure are finalized.
• Magwenya confirmed for the first time that Mabuza had made her intentions clear that she wanted to step away from her role.
• This confirmation comes after Mabuza publicly said that it was only a matter of time before Ramaphosa announced his departure.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has asked his deputy, David Mabuza, to remain in office until “the modalities for his departure are finalized.”

This was confirmed by the office of the Presidency on the morning of this Sunday.

Speaking for the first time to News24 about the vice president’s request for Ramaphosa to step down, spokesman for the presidency Vincent Magwenya said: “Vice President Mabuza has expressed his desire to step down following the results of the leadership of the ruling party.” elections in December.

He added that despite such a request being made, “the president has requested that the vice president remain in office until the modalities for his departure and transition are finalized.”

This confirmation comes after Mabuza himself confirmed on Saturday that he was making way for newly elected ANC vice-president Paul Mashatile.

READ | David Mabuza confirms his resignation: “I am making space for the chosen one in the conference”

He said he believed it was logical for him to step down as the country’s second-in-command to make room for Mashatile, who was elected ANC vice-chairman at the party’s December conference.

Mabuza spoke publicly for the first time on Saturday at a family funeral in Mpumalanga, telling worshipers that he had informed Ramaphosa that he had resigned as the country’s vice president.

“I’m making room for the chosen one at the conference because I can see that [Mashatile] He’s also making some moves. So now I’m also in a hurry to give them space. I spoke to the president and told him that he would resign.”

“The president will say that Mabuza has resigned. He [Ramaphosa] and I had an agreement. I said I would respect the president until I go, so I left and I think those who remain will continue to respect him,” Mabuza said on Saturday.