Highlights
– President Thabo Mbeki formally announced his resignation per ruling ANC’s request
– ANC’s deputy party leader, Kgalema Motlanthe, set to succeed Mbeki until 2009 presidential elections
– Mbeki’s resignation widely accepted among South Africa’s poor population and leftist groups; ANC party leader Jacob Zuma likely to take over presidency in early 2009
South Africa’s President for almost a decade, Tabo Mbeki, formally announced his resignation in a television address to the nation on September 21, 2008. The previous day, following a conference of the 86 members from the African National Congress (ANC) National Executive Committee, Mbeki accepted the group’s decision to “recall the president,” and stated he would step down “after all constitutional requirements have been met.” Additionally, some observers have argued that Mbeki’s days have been numbered since the high court’s decision to dismiss corruption charges against his former deputy and ANC party ruler, Jacob Zuma, suggesting that President Mbeki may have “plotted to have his rival prosecuted.”
Despite the president’s history of serving alongside freedom icon Nelson Mandela and succeeding him in 1999, Mbeki’s acceptance of the ANC’s resignation motion has been welcomed among South Africa’s leftist groups, including trade unions and the South African Communist Party.
Looking forward, Mbeki’s resignation is likely to usher in a new era of South African politics, leaving Africa’s regional powerhouse and largest economy to pass through the hands of an interim president until next year’s presidential elections where Zuma is most likely to succeed.
Causes for Resignation
Although President Mbeki had focused on building South Africa’s post-apartheid economy, there were a number of other reasons leading to his resignation. Under Mbeki’s free-market policies, economists explain, “South Africa’s economy maintained a steady growth rate, and a black middle-class emerged.” Internationally, Mbeki was credited with advocating African issues on a global stage and with negotiating successful peace resolutions in a number of African countries, most recently in Zimbabwe.
However, Mbkei’s policies failed to receive much acclaim domestically, as they did not create jobs or end poverty for millions of nationals, causing many in his party to loose faith. In fact, unemployment increased significantly between 1996 and 2006. These criticisms are shared not only among the nation’s poor, but also the Communist Party and the trade union movement, Cosatu – both of which are formally allied with the ANC. Anger at the President’s strategy to tackle the problems of unemployment has largely contributed to Mbeki’s downfall.
The more immediate cause, however, was due to an ongoing feud with his former deputy, the ANC party leader Jacob Zuma. Mbeki’s resignation followed claims of political interference in a corruption case against Zuma. Mbeki denies the allegations, but says he is stepping down in the interest of “party unity.” Divisions among the ANC began in 2005 when Mbeki fired then deputy president Zuma over his financial advisor’s guilt in soliciting a bribe on Zuma’s behalf. The corruption case against Zuma resulted from an arms deal scandal from the late 1990s for which he was charged in 2005; Zuma was acquitted in 2006. However, the National Prosecuting Authority recharged him in December 2007 just days after he was elected ANC party president.
Since that time, there have been claims that Thabo Mbeki and his cabinet were attempting to interfere with the case. Presiding judge Chris Nicholson dismissed the case on September 12, 2008 claiming the charges were “politically motivated.” Ultimately, the dismissal vaulted Zuma’s status to the front-runner position in the 2009 presidential election due to the ANC’s historical electoral dominance.
Looking Ahead on Zuma
The political crisis comes at a troubled time for South Africa, as high levels of crime and rampant poverty plague the country. The government has been attempting to reduce violent crime rates as the 2010 World Cup approaches, an event expected to bolster the economy by bringing in large numbers of tourists and increasing foreign investment opportunities.
Zuma recently announced that crime, lack of education and healthcare would be his top priorities should he be elected president. He cited the recent creations of local crime committees, which first began in KwaZuli-Natal, as an effective response to violent crime. However, violent crime levels have continued to soar, particularly in the forms of home invasions, business robberies, car-jackings and ATM bombings. Crimes involving business establishments, restaurants and hotels, as well as crimes targeting tourists have also increased.
More importantly, if Zuma is elected president in 2009, many South Africans will expect results based on his declarations of improving unemployment, poverty, and crime, as these were the main challenges for President Mbeki.
Unless Zuma can prescribe and execute a comprehensive strategy to deal with the causes of such crises, including addressing lack of education and poor living conditions, South Africa’s current conditions are likely to continue in the near to mid-term.
