Turmoil as deposed Mbeki lodges legal challenge

Published on Monday 22 September 2008 22:48

TOPPLED South African president Thabo Mbeki last night cast his country's politics into turmoil.

He submitted papers to the nation's Constitutional Court, appealing a decision by a high court judge that ignited events which led to his dismissal last Saturday.

Mr Mbeki's shock move amounted to a declaration of open war against his bitter rival, Jacob Zuma, and Mr Zuma's militant supporters in the ruling African National Congress.

It means that, as Mr Zuma makes preparations to become head of state following a general election next May, judges will be hearing legal submissions that his move against Mr Mbeki is unconstitutional.

Mr Zuma yesterday nominated his party deputy to become interim state president following Mr Mbeki's demise. But while Mr Zuma hopes to take over after the May election as state president from the newly nominated acting head of state, Kgalema Motlanthe, his honeymoon was over before it began.

Even before Mr Mbeki made his move, commentators said Mr Zuma's hope that he might escape prosecution on charges of fraud, corruption, racketeering and tax evasion – by replacing Mr Mbeki with 49-year-old Mr Motlanthe – might prove short-lived.

Even more damaging was a ferocious attack launched on Mr Zuma and the ANC by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the country's renowned Nobel Peace Prize winner who was a brave and out- spoken critic of whites-only governments during the apartheid era.

"Those enemies (of Mbeki] have got their revenge and are gloating as they rub his nose in the mud. Our country deserves better. The way of retribution leads to a banana republic," said Mr Tutu.

Mr Motlanthe, a former political prisoner and trade union leader, will be sworn in as acting state president in parliament in Cape Town on Thursday.