SA 'scared' after Mbeki axing
2008-09-22 11:19
Johannesburg - The sudden ouster of
President Thabo Mbeki in the biggest political crisis since
apartheid has left some South Africans nervous and uncertain.
People had grown accustomed to the long and bitter rivalry
between Mbeki and Jacob Zuma, who replaced him last December as
leader of the ruling African National Congress.
But after the ANC forced Mbeki on Saturday to agree to step
down as president, some are apprehensive about the prospect of
political limbo until a general election next year which Zuma is
widely expected to win.
"They should have let him finish his term. People in his
government have experience. They may just leave. Now we have no
idea what will happen," said Peter Mathonsi, 28, a baggage
salesman. "I don't like Mbeki. But this is not right."
Nervous, scared
Hair salon manager Nicole Carromea, 25, is frightened by
both how easily the ANC forced Mbeki out and the prospect of a
South Africa led by Zuma, who has been dogged by corruption
allegations and a rape trial in which he was acquitted.
"I guess money and power can do anything. It's scary. It's
time to consider going back to Portugal," said South Africa-born
Carromea, whose parents are Portuguese immigrants.
Mbeki's ouster came after a judge on September 12 threw out
corruption charges against Zuma and suggested there had been
political meddling in the case. That infuriated pro-Zuma
militants in the ANC who led the charge to push out Mbeki.
ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe said the party was
committed to stability and a strong government.
Lizel Oschger is not so sure. She worries the political
shakeup could mean Zuma will become the next Robert Mugabe,
president of neighbouring Zimbabwe, where the economy is in
ruins after nearly three decades of his iron rule.
"This is scary. We will stay in South Africa now but will
assess the situation," she said, holding her young daughter.
The end of the rivalry between Mbeki and Zuma has brought
some relief to Ben Pierre Macherbe, 42, a property developer,
even though he has some reservations about Zuma.
"Zuma is popular but he is not a statesman. As long as we
have someone who can act as a statesman for Zuma we should be
fine," said Macherbe, standing beside a huge statue of Mbeki's
predecessor Nelson Mandela at a Johannesburg mall.
Since taking power in 1999, Mbeki has presided over nearly a
decade of economic growth, the longest such expansion the
country has seen. But he was widely seen as out of touch with
South Africa's core problems of poverty, crime and Aids.
- Reuters