Tension mounts over Mbeki's fate
2008-09-19 19:22
Johannesburg - Tension mounted over President Thabo Mbeki's fate on Friday evening as the ruling party's national executive committee delayed a media announcement on the matter.
Discussions on the issue by the African National Congress' decision-making body, in Kempton Park on the East Rand, were continuing by 19:00.
The outcome of the deliberations was initially scheduled to be announced at a news briefing by 19:30.
By 19:00 it was still not clear when NEC members would emerge and address a group of about 30 journalists waiting outside the venue.
Said ANC spokesperson Brian Sokutu: "It is not clear when the press briefing will be held. We are still waiting for the exact time from the people in the meeting."
The watershed meeting in the Esselen Park conference centre was focussing on whether Mbeki should be removed from office or stay on until general elections next year.
The ANC Youth League has called for his removal following a Pietermaritzburg High Court judgment that Mbeki may have been involved in a political conspiracy against ruling party leader Jacob Zuma.
- SAPA