South Africa's former deputy president, David Mabuza, who helped bring current President Cyril Ramaphosa to power, has died, the presidency said on Thursday.

As South Africa is buffeted by criticism from President Donald Trump and other American conservatives—some of it unfair and pushed by bad-faith actors—centrist business and political leaders dream of riding that storm to hasten reforms.

Hailing from a small, rural province, Mr. Mabuza had a remarkable rise to national power. But much of it came crashing down amid corruption allegations.