The South African president announced his resignation on Sunday night. This happened after an ANC NEC meeting last week voted overwhelmingly to ask him to vacate his office as President of South Africa.
His staunchest ally and long time student colleague & friend, current minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad, has announced that he will step down the day Mbeki leaves office.
Interestingly, the only non-ANC cabinet minister, Mosibudi Mangena has also announced his intention to resign.
The Deputy President, Phumsile Mlambo Ngcuka, has decided to stay on after being asked by President Mbeki to do so. A number of other Cabinet Ministers are also believed to have been convinced to stay on after an appeal to them was made by President Mbeki.
These are interesting times in South African politics. The next encumbent, whoever that may be, will only be an interim President, and will be faced with an economic crisis as well as a political crisis. Cometh the time, cometh the man/woman.
Who will be the next President? Motlanthe/ Mbete, another ANC MP?
