South Africa’s political chaos worsened yesterday after 11 Cabinet ministers resigned in support of Thabo Mbeki, the President, who resigned after losing a power struggle in the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

Opposition parties called the exodus — which included Trevor Manuel, the internationally respected Finance Minister, as well as three deputy ministers — a disaster for the stability of the country.

Independent analysts said that it showed the depth of division within the ANC and predicted that it could lead to the revival of a hitherto ineffective opposition.

Ian Davidson, the Chief Whip for the opposition Democratic Alliance, which has largely failed to resonate with black voters, said the move could lead to the creation of a “black” political party and hasten a much needed political shake-up.

“We need a realignment of politics in this country — the ANC is tired,” he said. “All people of all colours who respect the constitution and independent institutions should be together under one banner.” Analysts believed that younger pro-Mbeki supporters could create a party.

News of Mr Manuel’s action unsettled markets, which were already fearful that the triumph of Jacob Zuma, the ANC president and rival of Mr Mbeki, would mean a lurch to the political left. The rand fell 2.5 per cent against the dollar and the Johannesburg Stock Exchange dropped by about 4 per cent. Both recovered slightly after Mr Manuel gave an impromptu press conference in Washington saying it was a question of protocol and that he remained ready to serve an incoming administration.

The ANC said it had asked him to remain as Finance Minister and would also reappoint some of the other ministers who had stepped down to help the interim leader, Kgalema Motlanthe.

Mr Motlanthe will be sworn in tomorrow when Mr Mbeki’s resignation takes effect formally. Parliament, which is dominated by the ANC, voted 299-10 to approve the resignation, bringing to a humiliating end the nine-year administration of the man who succeeded Nelson Mandela.

The ANC said on Monday that it wanted Mr Motlanthe, 59, as a caretaker president. Mr Zuma cannot take over as president until elected. The next general election is now expected in April.

The ministers leaving include Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the Deputy President, who led a turnaround of the country’s Aids policies, and Sydney Mufamadi, the Local Government Minister and a key negotiator in the Zimbabwe crisis. The caretaker president will regard some of the resignations as a blow to his hopes of reuniting the party before the poll next year.

Fourteen years after the end of apartheid the ANC dominates South African politics and is expected to triumph once again in what will be the country’s third democratic election. Many disillusioned voters are expected to remain at home, cutting the overwhelming majority of the ANC in the National Assembly.

Kgalema Motlanthe

— Elected ANC deputy president in December last year and appointed to Cabinet this July

— Defended Jacob Zuma against corruption allegations after he was sacked by Thabo Mbeki in 2005

— Believed to be about 59, is a former student activist, a trade unionist and a soldier in the ANC’s disbanded military wing

— Jailed on Robben Island with Nelson Mandela under the apartheid regime

— Elected secretary-general of the ANC in 1997 on the retirement from politics of Cyril Ramaphosa

Source: Reuters

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