Later, a spokesman for Mbeki, in power since , said that following the decision, "the president has obliged and will step down after all constitutional requirements have been met".
The decision is the culmination of a bitter power struggle between Mbeki and his chief rival, Jacob Zuma , the ANC's leader. Mbeki denies accusations he conspired against Zuma in a corruption case. Although Zuma has long been seen as Mbeki's likely successor, he is not expected to take over immediately. Mantashe said Mbeki would remain president until an interim figure is appointed.
Mantashe also said parliament would meet soon to formalise the process. There was no decision as yet on whether to hold early elections, he added.
The move threatens to destabilise the country, especially if other cabinet ministers act on threats to resign in solidarity with the president. Several key figures, including the deputy president, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, have indicated they will follow Mbeki. On that day, Judge Chris Nicholson ruled in the High Court that there had been executive interference in the independence of the National Prosecuting Authority NPA when it reinstated charges against Jacob Zuma in a case involving alleged corruption 10 years earlier.
Like a lamb to the slaughter, he meekly did what he was told. Yes, he went with dignity, for which he needs to be commended. In practice, this has meant that since the ANC, as the majority party, has had its leader elected as president following each general election.
The exception was when Kgalema Motlanthe succeeded Mbeki for a short period after his resignation in , Zuma having opted to wait to fill the post until after the election.
This procedure is as it should be — the majority party chooses, but has to ratify its decision by referring the appointment to the National Assembly. When it comes to the removal of a president, the constitution lays down that such an action requires the National Assembly to pass a resolution to that effect by a two thirds majority.
It also lays down that anyone removed from the office of president on any of these grounds may not receive any benefits of that office by which is meant, presumably, the denial to that person of his or her presidential pension.
So are we to assume that it was his concern about rands and cents which simply moved Mbeki to resign as president rather than insisting that the party take the matter to parliament? That seems highly unlikely. Love him or loathe him, Mbeki seems never to have been particularly concerned about material issues. But — as indicated by the detailed account of the matter by Frank Chikane, director-general in the presidency under Mbeki — it seems that the former president chose not to contest the authority of the party because he could not bear to bring upon himself the charge of disloyalty to the party, however harsh he considered its decision.
Like a lamb to the slaughter, he meekly did what he was told. Yes, he went with dignity, for which he needs to be commended. In practice, this has meant that since the ANC, as the majority party, has had its leader elected as president following each general election.
The exception was when Kgalema Motlanthe succeeded Mbeki for a short period after his resignation in , Zuma having opted to wait to fill the post until after the election. This procedure is as it should be — the majority party chooses, but has to ratify its decision by referring the appointment to the National Assembly.
When it comes to the removal of a president, the constitution lays down that such an action requires the National Assembly to pass a resolution to that effect by a two thirds majority.
It also lays down that anyone removed from the office of president on any of these grounds may not receive any benefits of that office by which is meant, presumably, the denial to that person of his or her presidential pension. So are we to assume that it was his concern about rands and cents which simply moved Mbeki to resign as president rather than insisting that the party take the matter to parliament? That seems highly unlikely.
Love him or loathe him, Mbeki seems never to have been particularly concerned about material issues. But — as indicated by the detailed account of the matter by Frank Chikane, director-general in the presidency under Mbeki — it seems that the former president chose not to contest the authority of the party because he could not bear to bring upon himself the charge of disloyalty to the party, however harsh he considered its decision.
Yet in so doing he did the country a severe disservice.
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