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Speculation that President Thabo Mbeki is to be axed in the wake of the Zuma judgment mounted to fever pitch at the weekend.

Several Sunday newspapers, quoting anonymous sources in the African National Congress, reported that moves were under way to remove him from office before next year's general election.

On Friday Pietermaritzburg High Court judge Chris Nicholson spoke of "baleful political influence", and agreed with party president Jacob Zuma that the corruption case against him appeared to be part of a strategy linked to the battle with Mbeki for leadership of the ANC.

City Press newspaper quoted ANC chief whip in parliament Nathi Mthethwa as saying it was no longer a question of if, but of when, the ANC would move against Mbeki.

He said when parliament reconvened in two weeks, ANC MPs would hold a caucus on how to deal with Mbeki.

"As a leader of the ANC, you cannot be implicated of [sic] plotting the downfall of your comrade and people then pretend as if nothing has happened," he said.

Mbeki's future is expected to come under discussion earlier, though, at a meeting of the ANC's national executive committee which gets under way on Friday.

Independent Group newspapers, quoting anonymous ANC sources, said moderates in the party had already secured an agreement that Mbeki would step down and be replaced by Zuma now, without calling an early election as "hawks" wanted.

According to the Constitution, the president must be elected from among members of the National Assembly, which means the ANC will have to amend its parliamentary list and have Zuma sworn in as an MP before he can be voted in.

"An [Assembly] election to fill a vacancy in the office of president must be held at a time and on a date determined by the president of the Constitutional Court, but not more than 30 days after the vacancy occurs," the Constitution says.

The Constitution says no person may hold office as president for more than two terms.

However if Zuma does step in now, before the next election, the interim period will not count as a term.

If Mbeki does not step down voluntarily, the Constitution allows a two thirds majority of the National Assembly to vote him out of office.

However, this can be done only on the grounds of a serious violation of the Constitution or the law, serious misconduct, or inability to perform the functions of office.

Anyone removed from office for either of the first two counts "may not receive any benefits of that office", such as a pension.

Though Mbeki himself has not reacted to the Zuma ruling, his office said in a statement on Friday that "the Presidency" was unaware of any fact that might have led Nicholson to conclude that the executive had interfered with the National Prosecuting Authority. - Sapa
 

 

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