SOUTH AFRICA: Finance minister quits and others follow suit in wake of Thabo Mbeki's resignation; biggest political crisis since apartheid

Record ID: 453859

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: Finance minister quits and others follow suit in wake of Thabo Mbeki's resignation; biggest political crisis since apartheid
  • Date: 24th September 2008
  • Summary: (BN11) JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (SEPTEMBER 23, 2008) (REUTERS) WIDE OF THE ANC NEWS CONFERENCE ANC OFFICIALS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANC SECRETARY- GENERAL, GWEDE MANTASHE, SAYING: "We thought that we should respond to a statement released at 1244 today from the Presidency, suggesting that there is an imminent crisis over an exodus of ministers leaving government services. Now we did a simple exercise, we spoke to everyone on that list, eleven plus three, they are fourteen and we having done that, we can confirm that there is no crisis" CLOSE UP OF MINISTER OF TRANSPORT, JEFF RADEBE MEDIA WATCHING AND LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANC SECRETARY- GENERAL, GWEDE MANTASHE, SAYING: "The call by the President with all the ministers remaining, that call stands, so we are expecting all the ministers to remain in that deployment, but we can't stand in the way of those who have a matter of conviction believe that they cannot continue serving in the new administration." VARIOUS OF ANC OFFICIALS SEATED (SOUNDBITE) (English) ANC SECRETARY GENERAL, GWEDE MANTASHE, SAYING: "Those confirmation by the various ministers and deputy ministers, the separate confirmation by the minister of finance and deputy minister of finance, will reflect the fact that there is no crisis, things will be going as normal, the ANC is ready to fill the space that is left by the six ministers who have confirmed that they are prepared to continue" CAMERAS/PHOTOGRAPHERS
  • Embargoed: 9th October 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVABFG3JESN3KAYJEXB6ATX2LSAR
  • Story Text: More than a third of South Africa's cabinet stepped down on Tuesday (September 23) after President Thabo Mbeki resigned, deepening the biggest political crisis since the end of apartheid.
    The list of eleven resignations included respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and his deputy, immediately shaking markets, but they recovered when his office said he was ready to serve under a new president.
    ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe responded quickly with a news conference. He told reporters there was no crisis, and the ANC was ready to fill the space by six of the ministers who say they're not prepared to continue.
    The demise of Mbeki was the climax of a long and bitter battle with Jacob Zuma -- who toppled him as ANC leader in December -- which has seriously split the formerly monolithic party.
    Economist Mike Schussler said South Africa needed strong leadership now. The rand had fallen against the dollar, the euro and the British pound.
    Interest rates were rocketing and the country was suffering its highest inflation since 1992.
    Parliament is expected to appoint deputy ANC leader Kgalema Motlanthe as interim president on Thursday until a general election next year which Zuma is widely expected to win.
    Mbeki's resignation followed accusations of meddling in a long running graft case against his rival.
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