ZILLE - MBEKI'S OUSTING MAY SIGNAL END OF THE ANC'S DOMINANCE

STATEMENT BY HELEN ZILLE

LEADER OF THE DEMOCRATIC ALLIANCE

Mbeki's ousting may signal end of the ANC's dominance

Release, immediate: Sunday, 21 September 2008

President Mbeki made a dignified resignation speech. He used the
opportunity to spell out the points of his Presidency for which he
wishes to be remembered, and to differ with the opinion expressed by
Judge Chris Nicholson in the judgment of 12 September 2008. This
judgment gave the Jacob Zuma faction the reason it had been seeking
for a long time to oust President Mbeki and seize power so that they
can impose a political solution to avoid Zuma having to face his day
in court.

In his statement, Mbeki demonstrated respect for a court judgment,
even though he has not been given a chance to state his case in court.
This contrasts sharply with the response of Jacob Zuma and his
followers, who only respect court judgments that are in their favour,
and vilify and defy the judiciary if they are not.

The dignified way in which Thabo Mbeki handled his exit gives us hope
that there will be some continuity in government between now and the
next election. We must now look ahead and consider what is in the best
interests of our country. Above all else, it is crucial that there is
stability in government. An all out purge of Ministers, particularly
those that have carried out their jobs effectively, would have
disastrous consequences for delivery. This must be avoided at all
costs.

The President's forced resignation is clearly motivated by the ANC's
stated aim to find a 'political solution' to Jacob Zuma's legal
problems. The incoming President must make a commitment that he or she
will not interfere with the National Prosecuting Authority's decision
to appeal Judge Chris Nicholson's judgment or any further efforts by
the NPA to prosecute Jacob Zuma for the alleged 783 bribes he
received.

Mbeki's conciliatory tone belies the deep divisions in the ruling
party; his ousting may prove to be the undoing of the ANC's electoral
dominance. We must now show South Africa that there is an alternative
to the political thuggery that has come to characterise the ANC.

The vicious way in which Mbeki was forced out by his enemies has
shocked the nation. As a result, the ANC stands irrevocably divided
and so do its supporters. Ironically President Mbeki spoke about the
value of Ubuntu, which has clearly been denied to him by his own
party.

I have long called for a realignment of politics to unite all South
Africans who wish to defend the constitution and the gains of our
democracy. We must stand together to resist the war-talking
anti-constitutionalists that have taken over the ANC. This time is now
upon us. We will redouble our efforts to bring together all those who
believe in the Constitution to challenge the power hunger and power
abuse of Jacob Zuma's ANC.

President Mbeki leaves a chequered legacy. His denialism of HIV/Aids
and crime cost thousands of lives; he undermined his own vision of an
African renaissance by siding with despots on the continent; and, by
eschewing Nelson Mandela's nation-building project, he has left South
Africa more divided than when he assumed office.

But, for all his faults, Thabo Mbeki must be praised for his sound
stewardship of the economy. Under his watch, South Africa experienced
its longest sustained period of economic growth, albeit in a benign
international economic climate.

All new democracies go through periods of political turbulence. The
future depends on how we react to the tumult. This is a time for bold
leadership and fresh thinking. If we make the right decisions, South
Africa's democracy can emerge stronger than before. This is our
challenge and we must not fail.