David Mabuza's children say it's hard to imagine life without their father

MBOMBELA - The children of former Deputy President David Mabuza say it has been painful to imagine a future without their father. 

Mabuza died last week after battling a short illness in hospital.

His children reflected on his death during a memorial service at the Phola Village in Mbombela on Thursday.

Mabuza’s family was unhappy that he devoted most of his time to serving the African National Congress (ANC) and left little time to spend with his family.

But his daughter, Angela Mabuza, says despite this, she couldn’t have wished for a better father.

“Dad was not an overly expressive man, but he showed loved through belief. He believed in us, he believed we carry weight, make decisions and take on the world. He’d prepare us for life not buy shielding us from it but by sharpening us for it.”

His son, Mxolisi Mabuza said all his father wanted was to see his children succeed.

“He reminded us often that his own upbringing was difficult. He told stories of how harder it was from him. He didn’t do this to shame us but to show us how much further we can go.”

Mabuza will be laid to rest in Barberton on Saturday.

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