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| Resignations rock SA government | Resignations rock SA government |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Eleven members of the South African cabinet say they are resigning, along with President Thabo Mbeki, who is to step down on Thursday. | Eleven members of the South African cabinet say they are resigning, along with President Thabo Mbeki, who is to step down on Thursday. |
| The BBC's Peter Biles says the resignations are a major blow to the African National Congress government. | The BBC's Peter Biles says the resignations are a major blow to the African National Congress government. |
| One of the eleven, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, however, says he has been asked to stay on by the ANC leaders and he is happy to do so. | One of the eleven, Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, however, says he has been asked to stay on by the ANC leaders and he is happy to do so. |
| The ANC is divided between supporters of Mr Mbeki and ANC leader Jacob Zuma. | The ANC is divided between supporters of Mr Mbeki and ANC leader Jacob Zuma. |
| As ANC leader, Mr Zuma is favourite to become South Africa's president in elections due next year. | As ANC leader, Mr Zuma is favourite to become South Africa's president in elections due next year. |
| Mr Zuma's allies had said they wanted the cabinet to stay in place. | Mr Zuma's allies had said they wanted the cabinet to stay in place. |
| Mr Mbeki is to leave office on Thursday after accusations that he interfered in the prosecution of Mr Zuma on corruption charges. | Mr Mbeki is to leave office on Thursday after accusations that he interfered in the prosecution of Mr Zuma on corruption charges. |
| On Monday, Mr Zuma had sought to reassure the business community and said there would be no change of economic policy. | On Monday, Mr Zuma had sought to reassure the business community and said there would be no change of economic policy. |
| A statement from the presidency said the resignations of 10 ministers, three deputy ministers and Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka would also be effective on Thursday. | A statement from the presidency said the resignations of 10 ministers, three deputy ministers and Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka would also be effective on Thursday. |
| World Cup | World Cup |
| A close ally of Mr Zuma - ANC deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe - is to replace Mr Mbeki as president until the elections, the ANC has confirmed. | |
| At a hastily convened press conference in New York, Mr Manuel said both Mr Motlanthe and Mr Zuma had asked him stay. | |
| KEY RESIGNATIONS Trevor Manuel, financePhumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, deputy presidentJabu Moleketi, deputy financeSydney Mufamadi, local governmentMosiuoa Lekota, defenceRonnie Kasrils, intelligenceEssop Pahad, minister in the presidency class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7629239.stm">Motlanthe: Safe hands class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7627128.stm">SA's Mbeki resigns: Your views class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=5373">Send us your comments | |
| "I am happy to serve a new head of state," he said. | |
| Mr Manuel is seen as instrumental in South Africa's recent economic stability. | Mr Manuel is seen as instrumental in South Africa's recent economic stability. |
| Many of Mr Zuma's supporters have criticised Mr Mbeki for being too business friendly and want the government to do more to help those in poverty. | Many of Mr Zuma's supporters have criticised Mr Mbeki for being too business friendly and want the government to do more to help those in poverty. |
| Among those to resign are Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi, who is in charge of finances for the 2010 World Cup, and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi, who played a key role in negotiations over the political crisis in neighbouring Zimbabwe. | |
| Mr Mbeki on Saturday accepted a decision by the ANC to recall him as president. | Mr Mbeki on Saturday accepted a decision by the ANC to recall him as president. |
| Correspondents say the ANC's hopes of managing a stable transition have now been thrown out of the window. | Correspondents say the ANC's hopes of managing a stable transition have now been thrown out of the window. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Mbeki has lodged a legal appeal at the Constitutional Court to clear his name after a judge said there was evidence that he may have interfered in the prosecution of Mr Zuma. | Meanwhile, Mr Mbeki has lodged a legal appeal at the Constitutional Court to clear his name after a judge said there was evidence that he may have interfered in the prosecution of Mr Zuma. |
| He said the ruling was "unfair and unjust", as he had not been able to defend himself in court. | He said the ruling was "unfair and unjust", as he had not been able to defend himself in court. |
| The "vexatious, scandalous and prejudicial" judgement had already cost him his job and damaged his reputation, he said. | The "vexatious, scandalous and prejudicial" judgement had already cost him his job and damaged his reputation, he said. |