David Mabuza, South Africa’s scandal-prone deputy president, has resigned from his position.

South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa announced the news in a statement on Wednesday and praised the departing deputy president for his “exceptional service to the country over the last five years.”

The development comes as Mr Ramaphosa prepares to reshuffle his cabinet, moving lawmakers around to reflect shifts within the African National Congress (ANC).

The president of South Africa will also appoint a minister of electricity, a new position that was announced last month in an effort to help the nation escape the “state of disaster” brought on by frequent, extended power outages.

In 2019, Mr Mabuza took the oath of office as deputy president. From a little-known union leader in a remote province, he advanced to become the ANC’s second in command.

He concentrated on land reforms and the plight of military veterans seeking compensation while serving as deputy president, but he was largely unknown to many voters.

Despite holding such a powerful political position, Mr Mabuza’s political power had recently dwindled. At the ANC conference last December, he was defeated in his bid for a second term as the party’s deputy president.