Mbeki Forced Out as South Africa's President

The African National Congress voted over the week-end to demand the resignation of South African President Thabo Mbeki. Mr. Mbeki has agreed to go. A successor has yet to be named. However, this isn't a crisis. It's proof that South Africa is a functioning republic.

Mr. Mbeki has had a long-running dispute with the ANC boss Jacob Zuma. Mr. Zuma defeated Mr. Mbeki in a leadership election back in December, and he was thus positioned to become the next president when Mr. Mbeki's second term ends next year. However, Mr. Zuma has been fighting a corruption case in court, which clouded his future.

Last week, a judge threw that case out because of political interference from the president's office. While Mr. Mbeki has denied any such interference, the pro-Zuma faction of the ANC took the opportunity to move against him. He had made too many enemies on the left to survive, and this was their chance.

His departure has some worried by the possible political chaos that may ensue, but the army remains in barracks, there are no riots, and the economy is not adversely affected. What is happening is just what happened in Israel last week; a party leader who was head of the government had to resign over corruption charges, and a new leader arose. The same is true of South Africa, and it should actually encourage people around the world about the institutions and future of the country.

Mr. Mbeki leaves office with a mixed record: decent economic growth, a tolerable deal mediated in Zimbabwe, and a disastrous HIV/AIDS policy (his health minister suggested vinegar and garlic to get rid of it). The new president will have to make some changes in the policies of the regime, but the country needn't change a thing in its political structure – although voting in someone other than the ANC might be healthy.

© Copyright 2008 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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