Mass walkout hits South Africa cabinet
Chances of stable transition of power in South Africa hit by resignation of 11 cabinet ministers
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Tuesday, 23, Sep 2008 06:26
The chances of a stable transition of power in South Africa have been hit by the resignation of 11 cabinet ministers.
Six of the ministers are Thabo Mbeki loyalists who said they had no intention of serving in a new government.
Mr Mbeki is due to resign on Thursday after pressure from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party.
Today's resignations – representing half of the cabinet – are a blow to supporters of ANC Jacob Zuma.
Mr Zuma is expected to comfortably win presidential elections scheduled for next year, with deputy ANC leader Kgalema Motlanthe to be appointed as president to replace Mr Mbeki immediately.
Five ministers who handed in their resignations today – including respected finance chief Trevor Manuel – have confirmed they would be willing to return to government if the new president wanted them back.
Mr Mbeki resigned on Sunday in a televised address after the ANC pressurised him to leave office.
A judge had previously suggested Mr Mbeki had interfered in corruption proceedings against his rival Mr Zuma.
Three years ago Mr Mbeki dismissed Mr Zuma as the country's deputy president over the corruption charges which he was acquitted of earlier this year.
Mr Zuma then beat Mr Mbeki to become the leader of the dominant ANC party, which has ruled since the end of apartheid.
Mr Mbeki had held the position since 1999 when he took over from Nelson Mandela.