ANC dumps Mbeki, moves to 'heal rift'

Ciao Thabo,
You have got to go
Arriverderci Mbeki,
Hello, Zuma and Vavi...
Is this really a coup
Or just that they hate you?
Every ANC dog has his day,
Democracy must have its way.
The NEC has met in Kempton,
Stabbing you with words from Nicholson.
Seems that the law can be quite handy
If you can't be found guilty.
So silly to have a big trial and tribulation
When its clearly a vile Mbeki prosecution!

Hands up all those who will vote barbaric political opportunists into government! Like some of us have said before, revengeful anarchists have won - but at what cost to the ordinary citizen? And will the tripartite tell us what their individual manifestos are, now that we think they will soon turn on each other sooner? Jealousy may also have played a much deeper role here, since we've had comments like "the president is always out of the country" without necessary protection and support from these anarchists... The ANC had died long ago, - just check out the influence of the so-called Communists and fat cat labour "leaders",- ever since Polokwane, both the NEC and particularly the NWC have suddenly been loaded with triple- membership loudmouths. Now we have to believe (if we did not at first) that the ANCYL are indeed the kingmakers - surely eliminating and "killing" all those opposing their childish stance. Where's the moral regeneration leadership? Or is it also enjoying fat cat status? Izwelinzima ....

Lord Zakes

It has become obvious that Jacob and his gang are not acting in the interests of South Africa and are just out to consolidate their own power. We need leaders to now stand up and stop the madness before it's too late, beginning with Thabo Mbeki standing his ground. Let us go to an early election; it may not be in the interests of the ANC but it's definitely in the interests of South Africa. It's time for the electorate to have their say, which is ultimately the final say!

GAMBLING WITH OUR PEOPLE'S FUTURE. By forcing Thabo Mbeki to resign at this critical juncture in history the ANC leadership are gambling with the South African people's future. At a time of unprecedented global economic turmoil our 'leaders' further risk our livelihoods by adding further uncertainty to an already fragile economy that can't employ over 30% of our people. And for what? For bruised ego's and political pay back? Mbeki was without doubt guilty of abusing his office for political gain but to dump him now and risk further resignations from cabinet ministers and director-generals will make South Africa an un-governed country. The honourable struggle sought to make apartheid South Africa un-governable, perhaps the South African people should remind the ANC that it is their duty to start governing our country properly, and stop gambling with our livelihoods and future!

Mbeki was the most appropriate successor to Nelson Mandela and played a role in nation building and peace keeping in the African continent. But Mbeki did not succeed in lifting the masses from poverty and in curbing crime. Sometimes one does not appreciate a leader's worth until they have left office. Whether Mbeki will be remembered for the good that he did or tainted by his shortcomings and the alleged witch hunt that he may or may not have conducted against Zuma, remains to be seen. Clearly, there was much to gain for Mbeki from Zuma's troubles. Trying to block a rival or perceived rival by creating a cloud of investigation and suspicion is a dirty trick used extensively in the world and should always be looked at with suspicion and the motives of such investigation should be questioned.

If this move is meant to be part of a campaign to force the NPA to reconsider their possible appeal against the Nicholson decision, that means that the ANC intends to seriously compromise the independence of the judiciary.

That such party infighting has led to this situation shows how incredibly selfish these senior party people are. They clearly demonstrate that their personal agendas are far, far more important to them than the stability and reputation of the Republic.

The ONLY possible positive to come out of this might be the splitting of this out of date party into two .. the far left can have their demagogic politics whilst the rest can form a more modern response to the needs of the country.

Whereas the ANC conference held in Polokwane totally failed to properly asses the damage prolonged infighting between the Zuma and Mbeki Camps would have to the political stability in our beloved country, the National Democratic Convention – NADECO made cautioned calls, immediately after the Polokwane Conference aimed at saving the Country from the effect of a further deepening internal conflict within the Ruling Party, which NADECO then saw as having the potential to plunge the Country in a crisis that South Africa is now facing, when it (NADECO) asked the Ruling party to consider calling for an early election to be held.

The ANC National Executive Committee has decided to recalled President Thabo Mbeki from office on the basis of untested inference by Judge Chris Nicholson to his (Mbeki) political involvement in the NPA decisions to prosecute the ANC president Mr Jacob Zuma.

Noting with concern that the actions by the NEC of the Ruling party have nothing to do with pursuit of justice but everything with the continued internal battle by one ANC camp hiding behind the judgment to finish off the other ANC camp.
The sound proposal by NADECO which was ignored would have enable the citizens of our country constitutionally ensure a smooth transition - Indeed justice delayed is denied .The call by NADECO seven months ago was made in the national interest and not narrow party factionalism infavour of one camp of the ANC over another.
The current move by the NEC has nothing to do with South Africa’s national interest, taken only 7 (seven ) months before the time of the current government is constitutionally over – “the snake is already dead “according to uMsholozi.

Therefore NADECO will not support this recalling of the President putting , our country into unnecessary chaotic and unstable government.

NADECO is calling on the citizens of South Africa to see that the ANC is not having the interest of the people at heart but rather the interest of power and settling scores against one another
Going to the poles in seven months with such big division in the ruling party is not healthy for ANC comrades or for the country as a whole.

Today was always going to be the day that we would get a hint og how things are going to be under the 'new' ANC. Would Zuma drive the agenda, or would it really be the 'collective' leadership. Well the latter won the day, and unfortunately the 'collective' comprise a mob of uneducated, impatient, power-hungry militant idiots. Malema is the flag-bearer. South Africans must now make this country work despite its new leadership and not because of it. We're in for some tough times, but in time an era of non-delivery will nudge the masses to another political home, we must only hope that a moderate political force emerges to free us from the leftist mob.

As the descipline members of the ANC we should welcome the decision by the leadership of our movement to re-call president cmd Thabo as we have vested such powers to them in Limpopo, and once again cmd Thabo you have shown what a leader you are by not contesting this decision as when one joins the ANC pledges him/herself to outh aligence that you respect the leadership of the ANC and the decision taken by them thereafter..Your legacy Qabane will be remember and is there for everyone to see, you wanted a corrupt free governance...People`s eyes are now on your comrade President JZ...but it is remain to be seen if your legacy is what you have set out to be charactirised by hooliganism and have individuals who think they are above the party.....or it is going to be continuity of taking the interest of poor South Africans we will wait and see!!! and will give you the support you need...Amandla .....Viva ANC Viva

The nation requires healing. Though these events are unsettling we must recognise that it is democracy in action. One hopes that the President and the movement of the people will strike accord on a way forward that esnures that the machnery of governance is not grounded. Its indeed mixed feeling when one notes the great work selflessly executed with one mind by the President over the past 14years. Of course no one is perfect. The ANC is a great organisation and the years ahead will tell if the decision to remove the President is justified. God bless SA.

Is South Africa, the home of Mandela, the great African, the home of a pantheon of African heroes, becoming a banana republic. Is a political party allowed to stage a coup against the State? I am no strong admirer of President Mbeki, but I think this action does a lot of injury to your beautiful country.

I think this a positive sign of democracy Mbeki's demise was inevitable, under his rule the country has been leaning on ethnically leadership rule look at the current structures of power and you will not how much eastern cape influence is in place.
Well done to the Executive commitee!

As if one should expect anything different. I am not surprised.

If Mbeki is a real democrat he should accept this democratic decision which has been taken after a rigorous debate within the NEC. He might not agree with it but it has been recorded on the ANC minutes as a decision of the current NEC which was democratically elected following due processes of the ANC. In fact, no one has disputed the legiticimacy of the current NEC. If Mbeki and his disgruntled cohorts want to win back the ANC they must follow due process just like Zuma did when he was fired in 2005. Zuma and his camp could have revolted: they had the power of the masses even then. But they chose the normal ANC process, so should Mbeki.

Colin Zwane

180 years ago, on the 22nd of September, three Zulu princes and a princess met and came to a decision to heal a rift that was tearing the Zulu empire apart. The incumbent king was not asked to step down, but died at the hands of his family conspirators in the cattle byre.

Two of the princes died unknown ignoble deaths and it is not known how the princess met her end. The surviving prince is a great great grandfather to the present Zulu monarch. The Zulu nation has ever since never enjoyed the same prestige at home or on the African stage. On 12th September 1977, another great South African died a lonely painful death at the hands of those who thought they were getting rid of a communist agitator in South Africa. His name was Steve Biko.

Today on the 20th of September a minor Zulu prince presided over the humiliation of his arch rival, Thabo Mbeki. Like Shaka, and Biko Mbeki was accused of many things: arrogance, individuality, and tearing the South African nation apart.If it were 180 years ago, Mbeki would have gone the way of Julius Ceasar, King Shaka, and that is death at the hands of his accusers.

Jacob Zuma has a difficult task,now that Mbeki is gone, he has to out do and out perform Mbeki. Mbeki's shadow will fall on everything he does. The yardstick and standard that he certainly would not like to be measured with, will haunt all his days as a South African head of government. Like Shaka, Mbeki's last words will be: "You think you are killing me, but you will never reign over it, it will surely be overswept by the white swallows." In 2008 it can surely be said that the Zulu empire has eluded everyone including the present King.

South Africa is a divided country in every sense of the word. Sometimes we agree for reasons that are totally different. Facts, truth, integrity and honesty are very rare commodities in politics.How do you find common ground with a man who has a totally different understndng of English like Malema? It does not matter which judgement the ANC NEC read: it read what it wanted to hear for itself. Some things must come to an end, even political parties that have a solid 96 years of existence, at the hands of those who really think they are healing them. I think Mandela should have been spared all of this. What a birthday present for Mandela.

It is not because Mbeki is indispensable but the way it was done and the reasons that were put forward for his axing and the perversion of ordinary language that convinced me we are in for a very difficult time ahead of us as a nation. And looming largely by his absence in all the constitutional tragedy was Jacob Zuma. That we eagerly await his pronouncements is an understatement.

The comment by the leader of the UDM, Mr Bantu Holomisa only serves to expose his political naivity. I would advise him to study mature democracies such as Britain where Tony Blair and Magret Tatcher left under similar conditions. Therefore there is nothing barbaric about the decision of the ruling party. I have been following discussions around this issue with interest and i must say comments by the DA and UDM were way off the mark.

It seems people just say what comes to their mind without consulting their party machinery if there are any.For instance, Sandra Botha called for the resignation of the President since last year.She repeated this call last week. But when the ANC NEC decides to recall the president Helen Zille wants to cry foul. She claims the ANC is creating a crisis for the country because of factionalism. This is nonsensical to say the least. These socalled politicians must not undermine our intelligence.

Who will take these opposition parties seriously in future because they do not appear to be principled but are playing more to the gallery.

Furthermore, these parties must show respect for internal processes of the ANC. They are not members of the ANC period. I think what the electorate wants to hear is what alternatives are they offering instead opposing what other parties are doing? It will be difficult for these sort of parties to get my vote. The UDM is dying a natural death because its leader is focusing his attention somewhere. He has lost countless members of parliament, provincial ligislatures and municipal councils to the ANC and other parties. Maybe this explains his anger towards the ANC.

I am very happy that the ANC has on more that one occasion ignored this chatterbox.

Why does he not rejoin the ANC if he wants to participate in its political life.

It is dissapointing to note that Thabo Mbeki has served the ANC with pride only for them to throw him out of his position.Surely they could have waited for the end of his term of office. This clearly shows that the ANC's decision was meant to protect Zuma and give him a presidential position before he could go on trial. This situation has put young South Africans like myself in a state of unrest, it is unpredictable what Zuma and his camp are going to do next. I hope that Zuma is ready to take on the hot seat he so badly wants because it is not going to be easy to try and re-unite the divided ANC again, especially after this.

To the outgoing president Thabo Mbeki:
You will still be my president until the next elections. Your great work may go unnoticed by people you call fellow comrades, but it certainly doesn't go unnoticed by us, your fellow citizens. You have strived for a better Africa and South Africa. The world has acknowledged your work with Nepad, the AU and more especially, the volatile situation in Zimbabwe. Viva Thabo Mbeki, Viva!

I don't understand. As an outside observer, I am confused. Is not the President elected by the 'People' of South Africa? Or is he appointed by the party to which he belongs? This is confusing to me. As a citizen of the USA, the 'People' elect the president, and only the 'People' can remove him.

Can you offer enlightenment?

MikeyM

I will withhold my vote in the next elections. I am ANC at heart but can not agree with what the NEC decided. To heal divisions Zuma must also go.

Is this the dawn of a new era in South African politics? A senior politician is being held accountable? Huh?

How ironic that at a time when Mbeki has finally stepped up to the plate towards the supposed resolution of the Zimbabwean crisis, his own party has recalled him, possibly paving the way for similar political dysfunction in the last African country left standing. When will we learn?

the "victorious victims" must be on cloud nine after managing to oust the national president six months before his term expires. i hope this NEC will as efficient in dealing with desaling with issues of national interest as it has been with dismantling Thabo Mbeki. i pray that this episode is not a sign of things to come under the "new" ANC. to Mr. Mbeki, i salute your noble reaction.

The ANC policy of re:calling the president agt any time needs to be reconsidered. It only works when the ANC is assured of 100 per cent support. When it does not have such support, it might end up losing the national presidency. Is it is it has do a lot of damage to itself. Will the electorate be assured that an ANC candidate can serve a full term in future?

This is an empty victory for ZUMA.

Mbeki has finally -- at long last -- run out of denialism. It was always his favourite fetish and it served him excellently, helping him sleep straight in his armed-guarded bed every night. Crime, corruption, AIDS, under-performance, the skills flight -- all were nixed by denying they existed. Well, there's no denying his firing. It's more than just a "perception": it's a hard reality.

South African economic growth is driven by a momentum that was there before Mbeki became president.
You can't question the relationship between HIV and AIDS when 10 per cent of your population is suffering from the desease and call yourself a visionary or nation builder leader.
Mbeki's reign has done nothing to an average South African.

"Unless political power is used to liberate the African masses from their state of abject poverty, ignorance and disease, self government is meaningless" George Padmore

Some poeple are crying about Mbeki's demise, while some are celebrating the victory the Zuma faction, all which is premature. I am all for change, which is what we should be happy about, regardless of how it was brought about. Oh.....and those cabinet ministers who are resigning, I am glad to see the back of you. It is clear to a lot of people that you were serving not your country but a certain former president, whom this continent gave a great opportunity for him to become the greatest states man ever, but unfortunately as we all know he took that chance and threw it out of the window.

I was very dissappointed that none of the journalists asked the NEC what they planned to do about the very clear opinion from Judge Nicholson that a judicial enquiry into the arms deal was appropriate. It would have been very nice to see them them squirm trying to defend firing Mbeki based on part of the judgement but ignoring other parts.

South Africa uses the closed-party list electoral system. Therefore, the people elect the party and the party elects the president. So, unfortunately, we dont have a say in the matter...

I salute you mr President, you really did some of us proud. I wish you a happy life and some of us have really learnt from your leadership. I admire your strong qualities, you have always showed courage and a firm stand on anything. Thank you! Hamba kahle mr Mbeki.

the only rift that is being healed is the one that would have formed in zuma's backside following his conviction.

it's really funny that no one seems to be listening to the point that tthe judge said that while this may have been politically motivated, where there's smoke, there is probably fire, and that the merits of the case itself [but not the procedure] would probably stand up in court.

*this* is why they were so quick to get rid of mbeki. i guess it's time to get my kids' british passports lined up in the event that this becomes another failed state.

I salute Thabo Mbeki for the dignified manner in which he responded to the ANC NEC's decision to fire him.

What is saddening is the reasoning behind this decision - to protect a criminal, fire a president! Jacob Zuma went to great lengths to stop his prosecution, even flying all the way to Mauritius in a vain attempt to stop the handing over of evidence against him - if he is innocent, why is he doing that? Zuma must be jailed and the key thrown away - he is in many respects a bad influence to any society.

For the ANC, it has now gone on record that it is a party that is prepared to sacrifice an upright man to shield shady characters from prosecution. History will never forgive them for making this grave decision. Slowly but surely, today's ANC leaders are writing the party's obituary.

We will not be satisfied we will always complain even where u are staying or working batho ba ka se go rate kamoka others will always seach for bad things anyway that is life pls just leave Zuma alone.

As ordinary South Africans were still looking and admiring the role the leaders are playing in developing this country.Unlike our sister countries, south africa has played a vital role economically.We appeal to the new guard please, people are anxious about what will happen after this.Please stand up and tell South Africa about your concrete plan to maintain the status quo or improvement plan to advance the status quo

No one is bigger than the organisation the president had too much powers which is very dangerous. This was direct abuse of power if the fomer president says he had no influence on the NPA to whom were his Justice ministers reporting to then? To show that the former president had influence in the NPA why would the NPA decide to charge JZ directly after he won the Polokwane elections, this goes to show that the former president was bitter after losing the election that's why he called his "dogs" to attack. What goes around comes around now the fomer president knows how JZ felt when he fired him.

this is a better time for the south africans to vote for a person of their choice not a party and it also open our eyes because that mindset of apartheid is longer and it does no longer exist ,there is no longer such thing for oppression, now people must be carefull we are approaching first level of world where the focus is on who will help in economic than someone who will always talk about apartheid regime and apartheid government didnt do that and we are doing this,we need people who can come with strategic method of governing a country that is advancing in all part of economy and also we have to learn from country's like malawi,ghan,botswana and nigeria they never hide their failure by blaming aparthied government,rather they blame their leaders when they fail to deliver,this is a time for south africans also to do the same ,to get rid of that mindset and start to work and the leaders when they fail we blame them no excuse.this policy of voting for party then a party select their favourite is longer working,people will keep their vote if polytical parties to continue to do that.

Remember, this is politics, not life and death, just politics - the power-play between people who believe they have a meaningful contribution to make to the governing of the land.
Thabo Mbeki got what was coming, although for the wrong reasons. He should have been taken to task for failing to act on Zimbabwe, the HIV/AIDS issue, the support of a "corrupt" police chief, his failure to thoroughly investigate the Arms Deal and all the corruption that went with it, his failure to ensure service delivery to the poor people of our country.
Instead he has taken the rap for the one decision he did make that was politically correct.
Jacob Zuma still has the stigma of corruption hanging over him (just a reminder to all the Zuma sycophants, he has not been found 'not guilty' of corruption) and he needs to clear this and (one suspects) the only way he knows how, is to get rid of the antagonist, and clear the way to exonerate himself by gaining access to the Presidential pardon.
Mbeki did bring a certain dignity to the highest office in the land and one respects him for that. That he placed 'the native intelligence of Thabo Mbeki'(apologies to Ronald Suresh Roberts) above good old common sense was a pity and this ultimately cost him his place in history.
JZ (if he does indeed assume the position after the next election) has got some work to do. The country cannot be run on populist song and dance and rash promises on the election trail or platitudes to foreign investors. Service delivery in the health care, education, criminal justice system, and not least an improvement in the lives of our poor (more than a quarter of our population).
Does he have the ability to govern?
He will need to rid himself of all the loud-mouthed hangers-on if he wants to be taken seriously. And he will need to surround himself with some very smart advisors and administrators (not least of which will be a personal finance advisor). Forget about the prestige of owning some of the most advanced weapon systems (we have no serious threats to our autonomy) rather spend the money on improving the lot of our lesser-fortunate citizens.
If he does all this and more he may surprise us!

even today, i still say s.a. was dealt raw deal.