PHOLA – Late former Deputy President, David Mabuza’s children spoke highly of their father during his memorial service this afternoon.
It was held at the Phola Sports Ground attended by Deputy President, Paul Mashatile and other dignitaries.
His son, Mxolisi Mabuza said as much his father was a leader and comrade, he wanted to speak about the man he knew at home.
“The father who raised us, taught us and believed in us long before we believed in ourselves. He could be stern, yes, but always with a purpose. He wanted us to be strong, to be independent, to be ready for a world that did not give anything for you.”
Mxolisi told mourners that their father expected them to work hard, to think clearly and to be ready to stand behind their own words.
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“When we asked him a question, we had to be prepared to defend our reason. He was not harsh, but he held the bar very high and he helped us reach it. He reminded us often that his own upbringing had been very difficult. He told stories of how much harder it had been for him. He didn’t do this to shame us, but to show us how far he had come and how much further we could go as his children.” He said those stories made them value the life that he built for them, the safety, stability and opportunities.
“He gave us a life that he never had. He always reminded us of this. When things felt hard, he would simply say, but it’s not too hard. Just carry your cross and go. It was his way of saying that life isn’t always easy, but there’s no challenge that’s beyond your capability,” he said.
His daughter, Angel described his softer side stating that his presence gave us safety and at times when he saw us struggling, he would give us a hug or say yes to something we didn’t expect him to.
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“It’s in those rare moments, we saw just how big his heart was. Dad was not an overly expressive man, but he showed love through belief. We miss the sound of his steps in the hallway. We miss the phone calls, short, purposeful, reassuring. We miss the coffee he’d ask for three times a day and the way it was never hot enough,” said an emotional Angel.
Mabuza will be laid to rest on Saturday, July 12 with a formal service at Hoerskool Bergvlam. The service will be followed by a private burial at his home in Barberton.
