Mabuza’s family in legal battle over his R44.7 million pension

Mabuza’s family in legal battle over his R44.7 million pension payout

Zuko Komisa

The family of the late South African deputy president David Mabuza is in a legal battle over his R44.7 million pension payout.
His daughter, Tamara Silinda, has filed a high court application to prevent the entire amount from being paid to Mabuza’s widow, Nonhlanhla Patience Mnisi.
Silinda claims a share of the money for her living and education expenses, arguing her mother was also Mabuza’s wife under customary law.

The family of the late South African deputy president, David “DD” Mabuza, has been plunged into a legal dispute over his substantial pension payout.

Mabuza, a prominent figure in South African politics, passed away on 3 July 2025, and the fight centres on the R44.7 million he left behind from his pension fund.

According to a legal application filed at the High Court, Mabuza’s daughter, Tamara Silinda, is seeking to block the financial services company Alexander Forbes from paying the entire amount to his wife, Nonhlanhla Patience Mnisi.

In her court papers, Silinda argues that she is also entitled to a share of the funds, stating that her father was married to her mother, Emunah Silinda, under customary law.

The application specifies that the money is needed to cover her education, including school fees and accommodation, along with a monthly allowance, all of which her father provided while he was alive.

The dispute is scheduled to be heard in court next Tuesday.

David Mabuza was a significant figure in the African National Congress (ANC) and served as the Deputy President of South Africa from 2018 until his death. Known by his initials “DD,” he was a powerful politician from the Mpumalanga province, where he also served as Premier for nearly a decade. His sudden death in July 2025 marked the end of a long and influential career at the heart of South African government.