Mabuza says he has been the target of a smear campaign since 2009
Cape Town – Newly-sworn-in Deputy President David " DD" Mabuza has dismissed talk about him being linked to criminal dealings as a smear campaign that started as far back as 2009.
Mabuza was announced as President Cyril Ramaphosa's deputy on Monday night, following a Cabinet reshuffle. He and other newly-appointed ministers were sworn in on Tuesday.
Mabuza, who was the premier of Mpumalanga since 2009, has been accused of running the province as his own personal fiefdom, including getting rid of political opponents in the province.
But, after his swearing in as the new deputy president, he dismissed allegations that he was involved in corruption and other dealings as a smear campaign.
"The campaign started in 2009 the moment I became premier, because people did not expect a village boy becoming premier. They will not accept it," he said.