South African President, Thabo Mbeki last night defended his legacy, which suffered a major blow when a South African High Court judge ruled that he connived with prosecutors to secure the conviction of the ANC president Jacob Zuma.
“We have never done this and therefore never compromised the right of the NPA to decide whom it wished to prosecute or not to prosecute. This applies equally to the painful matter relating to the court proceedings against the president of the ANC, comrade Jacob Zuma,” Mbeki said.
The ANC decided to “recall” Mbeki at its national executive meeting this weekend following a damning judgment by Judge Chris Nicholson a week ago suggesting that his government was involved in a political conspiracy against Zuma.
In his address, Mbeki refuted these claims: “More generally, I would like to assure that our successive governments since 1994 have never acted in any manner intended to wilfully violate the constitution and the law … In this context, it is most unfortunate that gratuitous suggestions have been made seeking to impugn the integrity of those of us who have been privileged enough to serve in our country’s national executive.”
Mbeki said he had tendered his letter of resignation to national assembly speaker Baleka Mbete yesterday and that the resignation would be “effective from the date” determined by parliament.
Mbeki said he had accepted the ANC’s decision as a “loyal” member of the party.
Amid claims that his supporters are now planning to break-away from the ANC following his sacking, Mbeki was at pains to explain his commitment to the party and said his work in government was based on ANC principles.
“This service has at all times been based on the vision, principles and values that guided the ANC.
“Wherever we are and whatever we do, our actions must contribute to a free and just society.
“This is a vision of a South Africa that is non-racial, non-sexist and prosperous. Based on the age old values of Ubuntu,” he said.
Mbeki spoke about his government’s successes on the economic front, having presided over South Africa’s longest economic growth cycle.
“We as government embarked from 1994 on policies and programmes aimed at pulling the people of South Africa out of the morass of poverty.
“We transformed our economy resulting in the longest period of sustained economic growth in our country,” he said.
Mbeki did acknowledge that this growth had not benefitted all.
“I would be the first to say that even as we ensured consistent economic growth, the fruits of this growth are not shared among all the people. We must admit that we are still faced with many challenges in this regard.
“We must all act in a manner that respects the dignity of every human being,” he said.
With the ANC decision having divided the nation, Mbeki said he had received a lot of support from the public.
“I have received many messages from South Africans from all walks of life … I thank all of you fellow South Africans for these messages.
“I would like to say that gloom and despondency have never defeated adversity. ,” he said.
Full text of address:Thank you
No crisis in RSA go well its just a change of leadership.
Mr Analyst,y then was he recalled?…do pple just change a leadership?
Well done South Africa, you are a true icon of democracy on the African continent. Rule of law, Independene o f the judiciary and press freedom are what we need in Zimbabwe. Your heroic stance sends shivers to the spines of all dictators on the continent. How I wish we could take a leaf from your stance and effectively reclaim what the devil has stolen from us by using other means instead of the useless deceitful talks we embarked on.
Democracy is alive and well in South Africa.
Pelsener l am being rhetoric to Mbeki that has been his most popular statement when Zimbabweans expected him to say something better. No crisis Mr Mbeki its quiet diplomacy
Well done Mr Mbeki. What a dignified exit. I suggest Mugabe copy you on this rather than the senseless girls issue he talked about on the signing ceremony. It really puzzled me how a cruel creature like Mugabe would wish to be younger so he can continue his terrors.
We also expect this from President Morgan should a similar situation arise in the future.
Viva Mbeki, Viva Democracy
Its time Mbeki pays the prize.That position was supposed to be for Ramaphosa,Sexwale or Phosa in 1999 but Mbeki cooked a cop story and these guys went out of politics for 9 years now.Issues that needed actions he goes ” No Crisis”.He made Morgan sign a dead deal by having African pressure on MDC.Now that he is gone what more for the confused deal with wet ink? He was quick to fire Zuma based on a court reference, now ANC is quick to fire him based on the same grounds.How ever this shows the good of SA politics –one day i hope in Zim we gonna do that! I hope the other MDC M should quickly recall the corrupt Arther Mutambara!!!!
No crisis in SA!
chawakadya chavakumuka Tambo. Wainyanya kunyepa uchitaurira vanhu kuti Zuma imbinya anoisa vana, ukanyepera vana Tokyo kuti vaida kuku ponda, iwe uchitsvaka kutonga, nhasi zvakuwana. You were too foolish to point fingers on innocent people and kept them in the ANC party with higher post than yours. You blamed almost everyone in the ANC executive for plotting to oust you and blocked anyone who was not Xhosa speaking from competing for the presidential job. Look what these guys have done to you today. You enjoyed more populace through foreign engagement and settling disputes in neighboring countries such as Zimb but not doing anything at homu. I am sure you knew that the net was closing on you, …. famba famba mudhara, warohwa navakomana…….
Yes wouldn’t it be great if Bob took a leaf out of Mr Mbeki’s book and left quietly? Obviously the perks and graft of office are too good to relinquish…….
I salute Thabo Mbeki. His piece “I Am An African” is an inspiration and will forever remain a legacy to Africans. copy this link to check it out – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIDzR9Th9do&feature=related
well..thst the greatest of news i have heard all week. but lets call a spade a spade this is gonna be a downfall for the golden country of Africa! Zuma its you who brew all this!!!!!!!!!
If the West did not blatantly interfere with the internal affairs of Zim and other developing countries around the world, nobody will point a finger at them. If there were not involved one way or the other, then why did they impose sanctions on Zim and bankroll Zim opposition parties, NGOs, civic groups,anti-govt pundits/ comentators, trade unions, anti-govt websites and anti-govt radio stations? Individuals Zims both inside and outside Zim were and are being paid lots of money to dish dirt on the govt. Remember that story about baby Blessing that was splashed around the world which accused Zanu-PF supporters of breaking the child’s legs and then it turned out that the story was false, false,false and that the mother invented the story to get money.Face facts, some Zims have grown fat and very wealthy on the basis of pendling lies to the gullible West. Yes Zim has made some mistakes but these pale into insignificance when you understand how the so called sanctions have affected the general populace of Zim
The West was not happy with the outcome of the Mbeki facilitation efforts in Zim and would like to see this reversed and usher in an outcome that is compatible with their interests. If ANC is not careful, there are now in the initial stages of regime change in their own country. Wiseman, you need to educate yourself about the history of both Rhodesia and Zimbabwe. Why don’t you start by Googling Zidera Act 2001 and EU sanctions on Zim.
Whilst at it, try and get a copy of the book Rhodesia-The story of the Crisis by Desmond Lardner-Burke (1976), who was Rhodesia’s Minister of Justice in Smith’s govt and you will have an appreciation of what the liberation forces were up against then and are still up against.
Google also some websites run by ex R**** and you will be shocked by what they write about black Zims. Knowledge is power!
there is no democracy in SA, because the head of state is not elected by the people of the country but by a group of people
IF MORGAN CAN BE MADE TO SIGN A DEAD DEAL BY MBEKI-WHAT ABOUT THE DEAD DEALS HE WILL SIGN WITH OUR ENEMIES WHEN IN POWER. THIS IS A SIGN OF WEAK LEADERSHIP.HE PROMISED NOT TO SIGN A DEAD DEAL BUT NOW SOME MDC SUPPORTERS SAY HE SIGNED ONE-WHAT DOES THAT TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR LEADER?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA -USELESS- BUT WE WILL WORK WITH HIM FOR NOW TO SATISFY THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE ON JUNE 27 AND MARCH ELECTIONS. IT PRODUCED A SPLIT VOTE. SO LETS GET ON WITH IT. STOP BLAMING THE WHOLE WORLD WHEN YOU GET DECISIONS WRONG. MORGAN SAID MBEKI CAN DRAFT WHATEVER HE LIKE – BUT ITS MY HAND THAT WILL SIGN THE DOCUMENT- NOT MBEKI. SO HE WENT ON AND SIGNED -WHY THAN DO YOU BLAME EVRYONE ELSE WHEN ITS CLEAR HE SIGNED WITH ALL EYES OPEN AND AFTER HE HAD TAKEN HIS TIME TOO. HE WENT TO KENYA -HAD A RALLY IN GWERU AND THEN SIGNED. IS THAT SOMEONE UNDER PRESSURE? NO-KWETE -BODO.
ITS TIME TO ACCEPT THIS GUY HAS FLOWS AND THE MDC SHOULD ACCEPT IT OR SHUT THE **** UP!!!!! DEEP DOWN HE HAS LET YOU DOWN TOO MANY TIMES AND EMBARASSED YOU MORE THAN ENOUGH TIMES-BUT SOMEHOW HE IS YOUR ONLY HOPE TO CLAIM THE PRESIDENCY.IT JUST SHOWS THAT THERE IS A DEARTH OF LEADERSHIP IN THE MDC.THE PEOPLE ARE TOO HUNGRY FOR POWER AND THEY DO THINGS BLINDLY .THEY FAIL TO REASON BECAUSE OF GREED AND HUNGER FOR POWER AND REVENGE. THIS WILL BE YOUR DOWN FALL LATER.
OPEN YOUR EYES AND LET YOUR LEADER KNOW WHEN HE HAS MADE ERRORS SO HE CAN LEARN FROM IT NEXT TIME. THIS IS HOW WE CREATE DICTATORS IN AFRICA. I CAN SEE ZUMA BEING ONE ALREADY BECAUSE OF HIS BLIND FOLLOWERS IN THEYOUTH LEAGUE.
PAMBERI NEZIMBABWE. NOW WE ARE ONE NATION-LETS GET IT ON.
puppet moyo at it again like his blind master morgan-standing ovations in london and he thinks he is the president of mdc. benzi !!!! kutadza PR at crucial times like this.Why labour party conference? what did they do to bring peace to zim? asylum seekers are being treated like bitches and dogs while you get standing ovations.You have forgotten the struggle already-its too early for ovations. Ministries have not even been allocated yet.sanctions are still in place and the same people giving you standing ovations will not release cash for development.**** food aid – we want loans that we can pay back because we can then we can rebuild our country.
These are the issues he should be bringing out in the open instead of kunyinura for standing ovations. Its mbeki who broke the deadlock peacefully against difficult opposition (british etc ). But we still did it. Why not openly thank mbeki for his role instead of running to your old masters?
the road is littered with landmines….
Scarface is a shame. Indeed you are. I have no words to further describe you. A brute? Rather mild. Pliz someone come on! Slut ? Sow? cant even mete justice. Scarface ka, dai waipedyo neni vaiti baba nhasi.