World

10 South African Ministers Resign Along With Mbeki

by Rob Walker | September 23, 2008 at 10:39 am

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Ten South African ministers, as well as the deputy president have resigned. The resignations follow as President Thabo Mbeki prepares to leave office.

Three deputy ministers have also tendered resignations, after a judge threw out a corruption and fraud case against Zuma, who is Mbeki's political rival. The judge stated that the case was invalid and rife with interference from Mbeki's political interference.

So is this a show of support? People who were involved in the interference? Mbeki has been in power for ten years, and many wonder what will happen to both him and South Africa afterwards.

The African National Congress has confirmed Motlanthe as the choice to succeed Mbeki until elections in the spring of 2009.

His replacement, African National Congress Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, will be sworn in as South Africa's president Thursday.
Mbeki announced he was resigning on Sunday, prompting threats from several Cabinet members to follow suit -- but the outgoing president urged them to stay in office, government sources said.

The resignations, which include Finance Minister Trevor Manuel and Defense Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, will take effect Thursday when Mbeki steps down, a government statement said.