South Africa

ANC VP made interim president

Article published on the 2008-09-22 Latest update 2008-09-22 12:53 TU

A girl watches deposed South African President Thabo Mbeki address the nation
(Credit: Reuters)

Kgalema Motlanthe, vice-president of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), was named interim president of South Africa on Monday after Thabo Mbeki stepped down late Sunday night. Motlanthe will hold the position until the general elections slated to be held during the second quarter of 2009, according to ANC spokesman K.K. Khumalo.

ANC head Jacob Zuma said Monday that he expects a "smooth transition" within the government.

Mbeki was ordered to step down by his own party after the ANC discussed his future on Saturday. The party made this move after a court threw out a corruption case earlier this month against Zuma, suggesting that Mbeki's government may have applied political pressure on judicial authorities to pursue the case.

Late Sunday night, Mbeki addressed the country, stating firmly that he had not interfered in the court case against his political rival Zuma.

Mbeki said that he was stepping aside for the sake of ANC unity and out of respect for the party he had served for 52 years.