14 Cabinet members resign
23 September 2008
The Presidency confirmed on Tuesday that it had received letters of resignation from 10 of South Africa's Cabinet ministers, three deputy ministers and Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
The resignations will take effect on Thursday, along with that of outgoing President Thabo Mbeki, whose resignation was accepted by a majority vote in the National Assembly in Cape Town on Tuesday morning.
Mbeki formally resigned as President of South Africa on Sunday after being asked to do so by the national executive committee of the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
The following Cabinet members have resigned:
- Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
- Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota
- Finance Minister Trevor Manuel
- Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad
- Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils
- Correctional Services Minister Ngconde Balfour
- Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin
- Science and Technology Minister Mosibudi Mangena
- Public Works Minister Thoko Didiza
- Provincial and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi
- Public Service and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi
- Deputy Foreign Minister Aziz Pahad
- Deputy Finance Minister Jabu Moleketi
- Deputy Correctional Services Minister Loretta Jacobus
The Presidency said in a statement that Cabinet regretfully had to accept the resignations.
"All the ministers have expressed their availability to assist the incoming administration in the hand-over process and any other assistance that might be sought from them," the Presidency added.
In the statement, Mbeki thanked the Deputy President, the ministers and the deputy ministers for their dedicated service to South Africa and wished them well in their future endeavours.
Source: BuaNews
