South Africa

Mbeki agrees to go

Article published on the 2008-09-20 Latest update 2008-09-20 15:06 TU

Thabo Mbeki (L) and Jacob Zuma.
(Photo: AFP and V. Hirsch/RFI)

South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki has agreed to stand down, according to presidential spokesperson Mukoni Ratshitanga. Earlier on Saturday the ruling African National Congress (ANC) told Mbeki to quit after a judge threw out a case against his rival, Jacob Zuma, on the grounds that it was the result of political influence.

"The ANC has decided to recall the president of the republic," Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe declared after the national executive meeting.

Formally speaking, the president is answerable to parliament, but the ANC enjoys a convincing majority there. Shortly after the executive meeting Ratshitanga told a radio station that Mbeki had accepted the executive's call.

"It’s an amazing development, obviously historic in our short democracy and a very traumatic one," says correspondent Jean-Jacques Cornish.

"Jacob Zuma does not assume the presidency immediately because he is not an MP," he told RFI. "So there is some time, there will have to be a stand-in president, some kind of interim president, possibly the speaker."

Mbeki, who succeeded Nelson Mandela as president in 1999, was due to end his term in office next year. But last week High Court Judge Chris Nicholson ruled against the prosecution of ANC chief and possible next president Jacob Zuma for corruption, declaring that the  case was the result of "baleful political influence".

That prompted Zuma's allies on the party's left, including the youth league and some trade unions, to call for Mbeki to go, although Zuma did not associate himself with the demand.

On Friday former judge, Willem Heath, called for Mbeki, former Justice Minister, Penuell Maduna, and the former Chief Prosecutor, Bulelani Ngcuka, to be charged with pursuing a political prosecution.

But the council of churches declared that the sacking would plunge the country into "an unnecessary crisis".