Mbeki resigns before the nation

All the president's ditractors will not get the satisfaction they were hoping for. The president's resignation speech has shown that he has maturity beyond the level of those who hoped to destroy him. His speech has reasured me that there is a place for people who have the interest of the country at heart

Farewell Mr. President, you inclined my hear to follow politics and for that I express my gratitude. however, Unlike you Mr. President, I do not affiliate to any liberation movement or political party. I guess I am one of those Mr. Malema refered to when he said those who support and individual do not belong to the ANC, and indeed I stand guilty of supporting and individual. I one of those who follow a leader. Well until someone else inspire me to participate in politics or elections again, I intend to rest my Vote.

Farewell once again.

Its a fairly normal democratic process for a president to be removed so this isn't a problem. What is a problem and is very sad for South Africa is that the ANC doesn't have a 'clean' person without baggage to take over. Zuma has to clear his name or his baggage will haunt him for the rest of his life and will penalise South Africa severely in many intangible ways.

The Constitution states that the National Assembly ensures government by the people by scrutinizing and overseeing executive action. Judge Nicholson mentioned that the NPA Act provides further indication of the desire of Parliament to prevent interference from decisions to prosecute. Significantly, he did not elaborate on whether, when or how the National Assembly conducted this scrutiny and oversight of executive interference in the Zuma case.

The facts from which he concluded that the executive unduly interfered with NPA prosecutions were gleaned from among others media reports and correspondence from the NPA dating back to 2003 and were thus available to the legislative arm of government, including the ANC in Parliament. Whether or not there were efforts by Parliament towards scrutiny and oversight in this particular case, all that can be said with certainty is that the National Assembly had not adopted any motion condemning the executive for abuse of power, prior to the judgement and up to the resignation of Mbeki. Parliament’s dereliction of duty in this case compelled a citizen (albeit a powerful one) to invest millions of (taxpayers’) Rands to get relief from wrongful action by the State.

The ANC’s NEC at no stage criticised the National Assembly’s failure to prevent executive interference in decisions to prosecute and its glaring negligence in fulfilling its constitutional mandate of scrutiny and oversight over executive action in the Zuma case. The ANC’s NEC nevertheless found the judgement of undue executive interference (among other alleged reasons) as sufficient grounds to sack Mbeki. The ANC NEC appears to see Parliament in the same light as their Marxist allies: something for show, for the satisfaction of the public and for the outside world. True power lies underneath: in the unelected elect few of the party centre. This power over the government by the people, of the people, must be eliminated because should the ANC also succeed in co-opting the judiciary, the ordinary citizen will be left extremely vulnerable: a totalitarian South Africa.

It is indeed sad that emotions got the better of the ANC and they have chosen to follow a path drawn by the likes of the Nzimandes, the Vavis and the Malemas which will contribute to the ultimate demise of the ANC. Long live my President Thabo Mbeki! We now have to wait to see what's going to happen now that the person who was ganged upon has been removed. Will there be another 'conspiracy to get rid of me'? I am so saddened by the departure of the Honourable President Thabo Mbeki. LONG LIVE MR PRESIDENT!

The king is dead, long live the king?What a fiasco,what next? The ANC, during the past few months, have managed to make democracy a thing of the past in South Africa.
The Zuma faction think they have won. I think not. Judge Chris Nicholson should be stuck off following his ruling in connection with Zuma's case. His judgement I believe is flawed and will come back to haunt him in the months to come.
If, Mbeki is truthful in saying that politics was not a factor in bringing Zuma to trial and that the NPA, were not influenced, by the government, then let him come clean about the arms deal. Let him name and shame, after all, having been kicked out of office by his party,Its the only decent thing left for him to do.To bring down the ship along with the captain.
If Mbeki does this, he will deliver a grat service to this country.
The king is dead, long live the king. Personaly I would like to see a queen

The ANC gangsters are really taking this country to drains. There are absolutely no sound reasons for the NEC to recall Mbeki, this was unnecessary, anyway Mbeki would have vacated that office in 7 months time, so why created turbulances in such a very critical position. Its time these ANC gangsters refrain from these clumsy behaviours, they cant fool the Mzansi masses forever, if they continue like this I dont think they will be leading this country in ten years times. We really dont want a society that can look at people like Malema as leaders. No doubt the departure of Mbeki announces the corruption galore within the ANC gangsters.

I am saddened by this and must say that Thabo Mbeki was a great president and remains a greater man by this dignified exit. I truly respect him and the main question is "how will the anc cope, who will be big enough to fill this position"?
Jacob Zuma still remains to be found not guilty in the court of law, let us not forget that.

For the ANC Mbeki supporters, rather than see this as an unmitigated disaster, it is in fact a golden opportunity not to take the path of other African Nations and to teach Zuma and his excitable but ignorant supporters a lesson.
I imagine there is by now a significant indigenous South African middle class whose interests are in stability and continued and sustained economic growth. There is nothing therefore wrong with splitting away from the current rabble rousing communist ANC(led by someone who takes a shower after sleeping with a HIV+ partner to prevent infection), and forming one strong, formidable alliance with more business minded parties. The new, modern in outlook party could be led by a young, educated and charismatic Obamaesque South African to inspire youth voters and other progressive South Africans to stop the Zuma zealots.

Farewell Mr. President. The only thing we really fail to understand in Africa is one - we dont like to be straight in our dealings we always want to be crooks even if there's no point. Look and learn Africa at large - there are very few goverment administartion that are going the way they suppose to, why? because we are greedy, not principled enough to govern. Having Mbeki as president and fire one he thought had corrupt relationships and bad dealing in the public office made some South African leaders and thier allies to boil as they dont understand a priciple of Public office, always be loyal and honest when you serve your people.

I think the way we have been brought up by former systems allowed us to have a mentality of greed and dishonesty.

We were not against you as you had balls as president - Your legacy and your work will always be remembered and once again you must never back a wrong doing.

Its now up to us as the elders of today to show the young ones a way and be able to go foward and learn about new ideas of the new governmment. I hope Melema could now shup up and concetrate in public speech management and have Morals not to be a loose head.

Very sad, very sad in deed. What a Statesman, I dont think he is bitter just dissapointed that his Comrades has treated him this way. The 7 months left for Mbeki in office could have not "killed' anyone but afforded the ANC time to strategise hard for next election without having their hand in/on many other things, like the present uncertanity in the country.

Mr. Mbeki you did us proud and have left a legacy in Government and around the world, that though cannot be said in the ANC. Go and have a rest, a well deserved one. But knowing you, you will be busy with other things that would advance the poor and oppressed in the world. GO WORK AT THE UN, YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD A CALL FROM UN-SG, and if you did, take the post there, tommorow!as the world need your skills.

To be an effective leader, your followers must have trust in you and they need to be sold on your vision. .
I believe Mbeki has made some errors in the past, however, point out a leader that has not. Choices have to be made and the leader has to have the courage to stand by his convictions.
Mbeki might have let down some of the followers in his party because of some of the unpopular decisions he made, however in the eyes of the nation he has done far more good than harm. He has also helped maintain the integrity of the country and grow it's popularity which has helped to maintain the economic growth and stimulate investment.
The current confidence (G8, World Sumit, 2010) & investment is partially due to his leadership.
At this moment one does not have the confidence that the next president will be able to do the same nor does one have the confidence that he/she will be able to adequatley control colleagues some of whom will be looking for payback for support given.
We pray that we will be proved wrong for the sake of our great nation.

MBEKI'S RESIGNATION SPEECH

Has Thabo been immersed in those self-help books?
Is he an ubuntu guru, with sophisticated looks?
This guy, I bet you, is heading for Ophra
Dr Phil, I reckon, is probably over.

"Never become despondent because the weather is bad,"
Excellent advice to those who are SAD
Its a Seasonally Affected Disorder,
Gets you seriously depressed in winter.

"Don't turn triumphalist because the sun shines"
Is also one of our ex President's lines.
Advising Jacob Zuma
Re dancing Mshini Wama?

"Trying times need courage and resilience"
Don't start crying, it makes no sense,
Even if its a windy rainy day,
Cheer up in Renaissance Africa, is what I say.

"Gloom and despondency
Have never defeated adversity"
Mbeki,
That certainly sounds like bad poetry
To me.


(blacklisted dictator/gorillamovement)

I think that those boys are just pathetic.President Mbeki (as I still see him) has done pretty well for the country. It is so unfortunate that he stood for what he believed in. He has put South Africa in a very good position globally.would Zuma be able to achieve that? no. I think we need to unite as the middle class and form a better party for a better south Africa and according to the analysts it is possible. Well done Tbos.

Mbeki is a noble son of the soil, loyal to the cause and 100% faithful to the ANC and the liberation movement. He was never driven by populism and emotionalism. There was no way he was going to embarass himself by fighting the ditractors.

He remains a dignified son of the soil and those who hoped to see him demeaned are yet to be suprised. And for the ANC, they must always bear in mind that who so ever they put in power now, will not be the choice of the people but their choice. And no matter how they try to play this down as a decision to unite the party they are still going to bear the scars of their decision long after today. The due consideration they denied this matter will forever weigh them down as a movement.

And Zuma and his croonies must know, the world is not so forgiving. If they so strongly believed the judge's findings they should have tested them in court and also call a disciplinary hearing on Mbeki before firing him. And to many of us they seem to be defending a fraudster at the our detriement. They have choosen to settle political scores at the cost of our prosperity and economic development that Mbeki gave to us.

And nothing can ever wipe away from memory the humility and the boldness with which Mbeki resigned and let the madding crowds play it off in their own.

And for combrade Mbeki, I only wish him all the best hopefully he can still contribute to the South African society as a proven leader

In his speech, he said "i am conviced that the coming administration will better what we have done in the last 14.5 years...." This statement has a lot in it. Will the Malema's be able to better what has been done? Having been so loyal to the ANC for 52,they treat him like dirt. Malema never went as to the SASCO level but only COSAS,who is he? post 94.What does he know. They are pathetic and an embarrasment to the world. Long live Mr president. I would be particularly pleased if they (Mbeki supporters)would start a new party
and he be the president. I hope they do.

I am a big Supporter of Mr Jacop Zuma, but I know what is right and what is wrong...The decision of the ANC Committee to take down Mr President is really a wrong doing, but we have to admt their doing though it is unfair for the country as a whole. w know that Thabo Mbeki has done big things for the country. Therefore they should have leted him fiish his term because I don't think there would be something tp be done by the acting president. the own thing we are expecting now is next year election. Thnks

The way our democracy has unfolded is regratable, it appears never theless very similar to that of cuba were sidelining and back stabing is the order of day. I am sure that there many things that the president could have handled better like, issues relateing to senior figure in the anc that were not fit for government service, mkmva and the redistribution of wealth. During his terms in public office the president was distant from the people who contributed to his raise to power. I wish the president well...TD

I will sound like a broken record of the things already said in this debate about the departure of such an intellectual property of our country and Africa as a whole.

There is one thing that I can eloquently say is that. Thabo Mbeki as a leader was too much advanced for the democracy of South Africa and Africa as a whole. His vision is beyond the imaginations of our limited mind sets. There is so much that he has done and he could still do for our world. For our young democracy, where we are still staggering from pot-holes apartheid, where it is still a rat-race to get into governance for personal agendas, he couldn't fit into such a picture. No wonder he step on the toes of many of his fellow comrades. Those who are less fortunate to understand the way he thinks, the way he do things.

Looking at his departure, one will paint a picture according to the frame of reference s/he was standing on while Thabo Mbeki was a President of "The Republic of South Africa". To those who can sing "Umshini Wam" to the top their voices, he will be remembered as dictator, a tyranny, the list goes on. But to those who put their mind and thoughts in what is being done in our country and continent, he will be remembered as man with a vision, a great thinker, a man who put institutes like NEPAD, African Renaissance in place for the emancipation of Africa.

I pity, whoever will leader the ruling party, as it is flooded at this point in time with hooligans and Canadian wolves who just howl out of the blue without thinking at all. The current leadership, the Malemas of our time, is nothing but a ticking time bomb that is very much unpredictable. I cannot be amazed if we can have a second care-taker president before election, because the upcoming leader will owe them favors in the long run. It is easy and enjoyable to watch your dog biting another person, but when those canines entrenched in your flesh, the pain is unbearable.

We are a country with a voice. If South Africa speaks the whole world listen with great attention. I doubt if that will be the case after this whole fiasco, as we bid farewell to this great intellectual of our country.

From a Friend of mine via email

Eish!

How does democracy WITHIN the ANC as a national ruling party translate to democracy OUTSIDE the ANC to all South Africans who aren't ANC but have the country's interests at heart?

If the ANC, within its democratic procedures, votes for an action that is abhorrent to the rest of the country's citizens, and then imposes this decision on the country by virtue of its status as a ruling party, is that still democratic?

Lastly, why is it that people feel tied down to rules and regulations that THEY have made, even when it is becoming clear over the passage of time that the rules and regulations need amendment? When has the constitution of the ANC or the country, for that matter, been cast in stone such that, when faced with unprecedented events of this sort, and it becomes clear that the rules either do not totally apply OR are inadequate, the rules CANNOT be changed?

Eish!!

What a great president indeed. It has been a very sad weekend for me to see the man i have loved and admired go the way he did. I would like to thank him for what he has done for this country and his great leadership skills. We will remember his as an economic and philosophical president, who challenged and lectured us on many issues, of all of them I admired this paragraph of the ‘I AM AFRICAN SPEECH, I quote” Whoever we may be, whatever our immediate interest, however much we carry baggage from our past, however much we have been caught by the fashion of cynicism and loss of faith in the capacity of the people, let us err today and say - nothing can stop us now!. He is far of a better man that the one who have called his from the high office. Surely leading and driving the New SA was a great challenge and he has laid a good foundation. Even in his last days in office, he still demonstrated a high level of political maturity and integrity. This is my president. The Chief. As he is called by his comrades. I hope those who worked with him will continue with what he has started in making a better future for his people. I was born in the struggle; he says. Many people criticize his so much about his aloofness and all that. It is who he is and you cannot expect him to jump around and sing "Mshiniwame". Not all leaders will jump around and dance for people to admire them. What good can one derive from being likeable and yet immoral. What good can one derive from being likable and yet lack of good judgment. I admired his with his aloofness. I voted for him fully aware of his aloofness. For is not an issue, I just wanted a good president. One of the greatest leaders on earth and one of very few sons of soil who have, triumphed over gloom. Wishing all the best the Chief or T men.

What about the matter of a third term now? He remains the most successful president in the history of SA. If he was to say 'The ANC has stumbled but the revolution has not.'would this translate into a majority?

Well, well, what a travesty of justice, judgement and all the qualities we hold dear. My question to JZ's supporters is, WHY DID YOU NOT START YOUR OWN PARTY, CALL IT "MSHINIWAMU" IF YOU LIKE, instead of tarnishing the ANC. Why did the executives allow themselves to be manipulated in this way. I support the call of the other contributors to start another party that will stand up to the ANC, and show these relics of the past who really rules the roost in SA. I need we need new leadership and I take pity on Kgalema Motlanthe for what he has taken on. Please SA's, I cannot reiterate how important it is to cast your vote, vote for DA, ACDP, IFP, etc if you must, but we need to put a stop to this immoral behaviour of the current government. JZ will not NEVER be an honourable leader, he does not have the qualities of a good leader and he is a bad example to our already lawless society. It's a pity that Pres Mbeki has to take the brunt like this, but don't give up Mr Mbeki, the country still needs you. I live in Oz at the moment and am dying to come back home to rebuild our beloved country.

patriot at heart

I am disgusted by the events that has transpired and commend Pres.Mbeki for his humility and dignity.As for Julius Malema,I would like to inform him that we were fighting the security police back in the day while he was still running around in a nappy!!Did your mother not teach you manners?He should shut up and show some respect to his elders who have sacrificed there cumforts,homes and family so that we are liberated today.This is not the ANC who I believed in, in the 70's and 80's and maybe some good will come of this by splitting the true ANC from the current group of thugs muscling in for the sake of power.Thabo Mbeki,I salute you, a true son of Africa and a true gentleman.Yaseen Parker