Debate sign of 'robust democracy'
31 May 2006
Top business leaders and government ministers have stressed that the current debate on presidential succession involving President Thabo Mbeki and his sacked deputy Jacob Zuma was no threat to South Africa's democracy.
Briefing the media after a meeting in Cape Town on Tuesday, Standard Bank deputy chairperson Saki Macozoma said that the debate was an indication of a "robust" democracy and part of the "normal democratic process", which must take its course.
"There is no crisis," he said, stressing that there was no need to accelerate the process of deciding on Mbeki's successor ahead of the ANC conference in December 2007.
"It must happen in its normal time frame," Macozoma said. He added that there was no evidence that the debate was scaring off investors.
Business leaders who joined Mbeki and Cabinet ministers at the Tuynhuys presidential offices included AngloGold Ashanti CE Bobby Godsell, Nedbank chair Reuel Khoza, Implats CEO Keith Rumble, Derick Cooper of Dorbyl, businessman Lazarus Zim, Transnet CEO Maria Ramos, Rembrandt chair Johann Rupert and African Rainbow Minerals executive chair Patrice Motsepe.
Trade and Industry Minister Mandisi Mpahlwa said the message from business was that the country's democracy was secure. "South Africans have no need to panic that we are about to see a big catastrophe that will implode our democracy," he said.
"South is a strong democracy which is not under threat in any way in the current period. Where there is a lot of debate and difference, this means the democracy is strong."
Mpahlwa pointed out that the UK was going through a similarly robust debate about the pending departure of Prime Minister Tony Blair, who is expected to hand over leadership to the finance minister, Gordon Brown, before the end of his term in office.
Transnet's Ramos reminded reporters that when Mbeki took over from former President Nelson Mandela there were "lots of questions about succession", which took the country through a similar debate. She said the current situation was no different to a pending change of leadership anywhere else in the world.
SouthAfrica.info reporter and BuaNews
|
