September 24, 2008	Wednesday	Ramazan 23, 1429

CAPE TOWN, Sept 23: Eleven South African cabinet members abandoned ship on Tuesday in the wake of President Thabo Mbeki’s resignation in what opposition parties termed a disaster for the country’s stability.

The cabinet members stepped down shortly after parliament voted 299 to 10 to approve Mbeki’s resignation effective on Thursday, ending the nine-year administration of the man who succeeded anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela.

The ruling African National Congress has picked its deputy chief, Kgalema Motlanthe, to replace Mbeki until April elections. Lawmakers will vote on Motlanthe’s nomination on Thursday.

The country’s widely respected Finance Minister, Trevor Manuel, seen by investors as vital to the country’s stable economy and impressive growth, was among the 11 ministers of the 31-member cabinet who handed their resignations.

Manuel’s spokesman made it clear that he was ready to serve the new administration, but his announcement led to market jitters with the rand slipping from 7.98 to 8.16 to the US dollar.

The president’s office said the ministers’ resignations would also take effect on Thursday.

The ministers resigning include Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, who spearheaded a turnaround of the country’s AIDS policies and Local Government Minister Sydney Mufamadi, a key negotiator in the Zimbabwe crisis.

Opposition parties expressed concern about the resignations, with Inkatha Freedom Party Chief Whip Koos van der Merwe telling parliament it was an “unmitigated disaster” and a “watershed moment in history”.

—AFP