Thabo Mbeki Out!
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
Posted by Gerald Harper
on September 22, 2008. Filed under Local News.
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