Analyst: Not going to burial 'was very telling'

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa's failure to attend the private burial of former Deputy President David Mabuza has shown that the two did not have a good relationship.

- MANYANE MANYANE

This was according to political analyst, Ntsikelelo Breakfast, who also accused Ramaphosa of being dishonest during his eulogy speech at the funeral on Saturday.

It has been alleged that Mabuza and Ramaphosa did not see eye to eye, especially following the outcomes of the ANC's conference in 2022, which saw Mabuza vacate his office.

The family confirmed that Ramaphosa and other ANC officials were invited to attend the burial.

Mabuza passed away last week at the age of 64, following a short illness. He was buried at a family burial site in Barberton, Mpumalanga.

During the morning session, held at his home, ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe handed over the party flag, which had draped Mabuza's coffin, to the family.

The coffin was then draped in the national flag as the ceremony was handed over to the military in accordance with the Category Two State Funeral protocol.

However, it was the current Deputy President, Paul Mashatile, who handed over the national flag to Mabuza's wife, Nohlanhla, before he was laid to rest.

According to Breakfast, this was strange.

"It is very strange for him to leave before the coffin is lowered into the grave. It is unusual," he said.