History Matters

Mark Gevisser – Businnes day 23 September 2008 IF THE goal of Thabo Mbeki’s resignation speech on Sunday night was to remind South Africans and the world at large what they will be missing when he goes, then he was successful. His is the type of leadership, he made clear, which is neither “gloomy” when [...]

The new ministers are as follows: * Defence, Charles Nqakula; * Justice and Constitutional Development, Enver Surty; * Health, Barbara Hogan; * Safety and Security, Nathi Mthethwa; * Public Enterprises, Brigitte Mabandla; * Public Works, Geoff Doidge; * Intelligence, Siyabonga Cwele; * Minister in the Presidency, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang * Provincial and Local Government S Shiceka [...]

September 24, 2008. Dear Colleagues, To all Members of the National Executive. As you know, tomorrow, September 25, the National Assembly will elect the next President of the Republic of South Africa, who will also swear his or her Oath of Office on the same day. By law, I will therefore cease to be President [...]

the Constitution determines that a new President must be chosen within 30 days from among the members of the National Assembly, according to the blog Constitutionally Speaking. In the meantime the Deputy President will act as President. Or if she also resigns, a Minister designated by the other members of the Cabinet will act as [...]

President Mbeki made a dignified resignation speech. He used the opportunity to spell out the points of his Presidency for which he wishes to be remembered, and to differ with the opinion expressed by Judge Chris Nicholson in the judgment of 12 September 2008. This judgment gave the Jacob Zuma faction the reason it had [...]

How can the ANC push out Mbeki? A South African president can be removed if two-thirds of Parliament supports a vote outlining he was guilty of a serious violation of the constitution or laws. He can also be deposed through a vote of no-confidence which needs just a majority. But the process is more simple [...]

The ousting of Mbeki as President of the ANC at Polokwane was the beginning of the end for Mbeki but it also heralded a turning point for the ANC. Since Polokwane the powerful faction supporting Zuma has been on a roll, axing its way through the ANC, ridding itself of those party bosses who were [...]

The ANC Youth League’s attack on the party’s deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, tells us two things. Firstly, that the ANC is more seriously divided than anyone imagined even after the Polokwane punch-up. Secondly, that the Jacob Zuma camp is working itself into a reckless frenzy as it realises its man’s legal position is becoming more [...]

Last week Friday Cosatu’s KwaZulu-Natal secretary general Zet Luzipho was quoted as saying “If the Scorpions bite the wrong people we will kill them. Like a dog when it starts biting relatives at your home. You get rid of it. We will do the same to the Scorpions”, this after several protest marches in the [...]