SA's Mbeki says he will step down

Mr Mbeki has denied interfering in the case against Jacob Zuma
South African President Thabo Mbeki will accept a call to resign by the governing African National Congress (ANC), his spokesman has said.

Mukoni Ratshitanga said Mr Mbeki would leave his post once "all constitutional requirements have been met".

It comes days after a High Court judge suggested that Mr Mbeki may have interfered in a corruption case against his rival, ANC leader Jacob Zuma.

Mr Zuma was expected to succeed Mr Mbeki in scheduled elections next year.

Mr Mbeki has called for his cabinet to meet on Sunday.

Parliament is expected to meet in the coming days to formalise the resignation, and is likely to appoint the parliamentary speaker as interim leader.

The decision to call for Mr Mbeki's early resignation was taken at a meeting of the ANC's National Executive Committee (NEC). [Mr Mbeki] agreed that he is going to participate in the process and the formalities

ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe


Rise and fall of Thabo Mbeki

The ANC's Secretary General Gwede Mantashe said the move had followed "a long and difficult discussion".

He said Mr Mbeki, who has ruled for more than a decade, "did not display shock" at the decision and had agreed to participate "in the process and the formalities".

The decision had been taken for "stability and for a peaceful and prosperous South Africa", Mr Mantashe told a news conference.

The ANC secretary general said this was not punishment for Thabo Mbeki, adding that the president would be given the chance to continue his role as mediator in Zimbabwe.

At the same time, ANC cabinet members are being urged to remain in government to ensure continued stability.

Political interference

The BBC's Peter Biles in Pretoria says this dramatic decision will fundamentally change South Africa's political landscape.




Jacob Zuma: Comeback kid

Mr Mbeki fired Jacob Zuma as deputy president in 2005 after his financial adviser was found guilty of soliciting a bribe on his behalf.

But Mr Zuma returned to the political stage to topple his rival as ANC leader in bitterly contested elections last year.

Earlier this month a High Court judge dismissed corruption and other charges against Mr Zuma, saying there was evidence of political interference in the investigation.

In his ruling the judge said it appeared that Mr Mbeki had colluded with prosecutors against Jacob Zuma as part of the "titanic power struggle" within the ANC.

The accusation was strongly denied by Mr Mbeki.

Weakened position

Mr Mbeki, who has devoted his life to the ANC, succeeded Nelson Mandela as the party's president in 1997.

He became leader of South Africa in 1999 and won a second term in 2004.

Perhaps his biggest policy success has been South Africa's rapid economic growth since the end of apartheid and the rise of a black middle class - but to the anger of many, wealth is more unevenly distributed than ever before.

He has failed to convince the trade unions and the poorest South Africans that the government has acted in their interest - providing space for Mr Zuma to mobilise a powerful constituency.

Domestically, his government's handling of the HIV/Aids crisis and failure to stem violent crime in the country has weakened his hand.

I want to ask if any Nigerian head of state can accept to resign, voluntarily without using power to intimidate people,South Africa is where there is real Democracy or democrazyyyyyyyyyyy

and what makes u tink he is going to resign like he said.
he is bidding his time to fight back.

He has already agreed to quit so we expect him to. Now, that is real democracy and not like our leaders who will cling to power at all cost just to have all their bills paid by the Government. Some will even stoop so low as to accept jobs that are less in reponsibilities than they held in a previous dispensation.

l love mbeki. think Zuma would be a better president, he seems more in tune with the ordinary people

foreign affairs

To be frank i thought it would never happen. A black leader resigning from presidency. Hope this is a lesson to all the other African leaders who refuse to resign

See wetin SA take pass us for Naija.

Broadcast that Mr Umoru is planning to resign

see how many people enter detention, TV station closed down

Naija, we never start!

The man has already resigned . . . . . he has handed in his resignation letter . . . . . just that the date of his stepping down will be determined by whenever a new leader has been chosen.


Let it be on record that on a week when a TV station was closed down in Nigeria, members of the news organistaion intimidated and locked up for insinuating that our factually sick President Yar'adua will resign, South African Mbeki who is otherwise fit has resigned because his party ANC advised him to on the account that he may have interferred with court proceedings in the Zuma trial.

Even our AGF who is on record to have written a dubious letter in a corruption trial is still enjoying his office.

Goshhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!! South Africa is a very civilised country.

this shows the democratic process in nigeria has a long way to go.

Thank God, some nigerians are trying to wake up.

If since 30 years ago till present, TV stations can be closed down at will by the nigerian government. Then what makes you guys feel yaradua can take a cue from mbeki?

Great news that Mbeki will stand down, if only some corrupt Nigerian politicians would take the example of the corrupt South African

Now Mugabi's boyfriend Mbeki is out of the way, South Africa can again move forward positively

Is like a dream,sometimes I think that south africa is not in african continent lets see what happens in naija ASO ROCK