Sibongakonke Shoba
23 September 2008
Johannesburg — OPPOSITION political parties and analysts say African National Congress (ANC) deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe is the best choice to replace President Thabo Mbeki.
United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said Motlanthe's appointment would make sense as he was the most senior ANC member of the cabinet.
"His profile is far better than that of Madam Speaker Baleka Mbete," said Holomisa.
Many political commentators had tipped Mbete to take over from Mbeki who was recalled over the weekend.
Holomisa said Mbete's image was tainted as she had been controversial over the years.
"She was in the forefront marching, accompanying (former ANC chief whip) Tony Yengeni to jail. She was also part of the campaign to say the charges against ANC president Jacob Zuma be withdrawn.
"There are certain areas where she put the whole Parliament in disrepute," Holomisa said.
"On the other hand, Motlanthe is a gentleman ... I think if they appoint him it might work," he said.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Helen Zille said her party believed that Motlanthe's nomination was the best case scenario "under the circumstances". "Motlanthe is perhaps the most level-headed and reasonable of all the politicians in the Zuma camp.
"Unlike Zuma, he dared to stick his head above the parapet and rebuke the ANC Youth League for its menacing statements that it would ' shoot to kill' for the ANC president."
She said Motlanthe had committed himself to the independence of the judiciary and the supremacy of the c onstitution.
"The DA will hold him to these statements should he be elected p resident."
Zille said the challenge for Motlanthe was to rise above the ANC's internal "power play" and govern in the best interests of the people of SA between now and the next election.
"We will be watching Motlanthe very closely to make sure the institutions of state are not abused to secure a ' political solution' for Jacob Zuma's legal problems," said Zille.
Political analyst Adam Habib said Motlanthe was a "very good choice".
But both Zille and Holomisa did not forget to mention Motlanthe's controversial side.
Holomisa said although he would welcome Motlanthe's appointment, the ANC deputy president still had to explain his involvement in the oil deals in Iraq and the Petro SA scandal.
Zille said: "Motlanthe has limited experience in government and question marks remain over his involvement in the United Nations Oil for Food scandal."
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