Karima Brown and Linda Ensor
25 September 2008
Johannesburg — AFRICAN National Congress (ANC) national executive committee (NEC) members yesterday lambasted the Presidency's "spiteful and reckless" decision to prematurely release names of cabinet ministers who had tendered their resignations in the wake of the party's recall of President Thabo Mbeki.
The move on Tuesday sparked panic on local markets and raised fears that the ANC was not properly managing the transition .
The South African Communist Party (SACP) said the action suggested Mbeki had no regard for SA's stability and standing.
Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad last night denied Mbeki had acted inappropriately. Speaking after the final meeting of the outgoing cabinet yesterday, Pahad said ministers and deputy ministers had resigned individually through letters to the president.
"The people who resigned have resigned from this cabinet," Pahad said. Whether some ministers intended to make themselves available to work under the incoming president was something between them and the future leader and was not something Mbeki could involve himself with.
However, former provincial and local government minister and a member of the ANC's NEC, Valli Moosa, said any "reasonable" person could only conclude that what happened was nothing but "spiteful".
"Like everybody else I was extremely concerned when I first heard about the resignations, and was most concerned when I heard Trevor (Manuel) was on the list because I knew it could not be true. I had been with him on Friday at the NEC," Moosa said.
Manuel had earlier put his notice of resignation on file as the NEC had yet to decide on the process to recall Mbeki. One option would have required the entire cabinet to resign. However, Moosa said, when Manuel left for an International Monetary Fund meeting in the US last weekend, he was not yet aware which option the NEC would use to have Mbeki removed from office.
Manuel had, however, already assured ANC president Jacob Zuma he would stay on as finance minister. Moosa said he could vouch for Manuel's integrity, and he would never have agreed to allow the statement to be released if anyone had bothered to "check" with him first.
"I have known Trevor Manuel for a very long time. I can tell you that he was never informed that the Presidency was going to release the statement. The correct procedure would have been that he should have been informed before they included his name on the list. It's only proper."
Pahad, however, told reporters that Manuel strongly believed it was correct in a democratic system for cabinet members to step down along with the president who had appointed them.
Legal advisers were of a different view and this was the reason why the processes had taken the path they did.
Manuel had then clarified that he was available to serve under the next president.
ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe described the move as a "dangerous mistake".
Other NEC members said it smacked of Mbeki's arrogance and small-mindedness. "He was just out to cause havoc. It was outright mischief," an NEC member said.
The SACP blamed Mbeki for the decision to release the names, accusing him of having complete "disregard for the stability of the country".
"Once again we have been reminded of the underlying reason for the ANC's recall of Mbeki. Duplicity, the flouting of longstanding ANC traditions of collective leadership and respect for the unity of the organisation have been hallmarks of the outgoing presidency.
"Despite the moving performance on Sunday evening, the sad truth is that President Mbeki has never come to terms with the message that the overwhelming majority of ANC delegates sought to convey at the ANC's 52nd national conference.
"The present fight-back campaign betrays a reckless disregard for stability in our country and for the standing of SA internationally," spokesman Malesela Maleka said.
News of the resignations sent the rand tumbling early on Tuesday afternoon.
The JSE lost more than 4% of its value and the South African currency tumbled about 2,5% against the dollar. However, financial indicators recovered somewhat later in the day as officials scrambled to do damage control. However, when Manuel's spokeswoman indicated an hour later that he and his deputy, Jabu Moleketi - who had also resigned - were available to serve in a new administration, the currency bounced back, and by 2.30pm was trading at R8,14/$.
Meanwhile, Pahad hinted that two or more cabinet resignations could be in the pipeline but would not provide any details.
He dismissed suggestions of a split in the ANC, saying that he was not aware of this and had not been involved in any such discussions.
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