SOUTH AFRICA: President Thabo Mbeki addresses emergency meeting cabinet in Pretoria as he prepares to step down

Record ID: 454980

  • Title: SOUTH AFRICA: President Thabo Mbeki addresses emergency meeting cabinet in Pretoria as he prepares to step down
  • Date: 22nd September 2008
  • Summary: (BN11) PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA, (SEPTEMBER 21, 2008) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE UNION BUILDINGS SOUTH AFRICAN FLAGS
  • Embargoed: 7th October 2008 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA4CDT51XBX7IS4C3P7F5SAA90I
  • Story Text: South African President Thabo Mbeki, who is stepping down after his ruling African National Congress demanded he leave office, calls an emergency cabinet meeting in Pretoria.
    Ministers and their deputies, government officials and top ANC officials arrived at the Union Buildings in Pretoria on Sunday afternoon (September 21) ahead of an emergency cabinet meeting and was expected to be President Thabo Mbeki's final address to the group of ministers, the South African Press Association reported.
    Social Development Minister Zola Skweyiya, Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, Safety and Security Minister Charles Nqakula and his wife Home Affairs Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula were among the ministers who walked briskly past the bank of reporters who had been instructed not to seek comment from them as they went into the briefing room.
    ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe, who broke the news to the nation on Saturday (September 21) after telling Mbeki in person that he was to be recalled, arrived with ANC deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe, who was recently installed as a minister without portfolio in the presidency.
    The cabinet ministers, some in informal dress and others dressed more formally, filed into the briefing room, with their bodyguards. National Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils joked: "What are you lot all doing here, it's Sunday you should be resting," as he passed the reporters.
    Mbeki was recalled by the ANC on Saturday during its national executive committee meeting, at the end of a week of speculation about how the party would handle a court judgement that criticised the handling of the corruption investigation into ANC president Jacob Zuma and suggested political meddling.
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