Newly elected South African President Kgalema Motlanthe won praise on Friday for quickly forming a government after a week of political turbulence, but still faces fallout from the ouster of Thabo Mbeki.
Motlanthe unveiled his Cabinet shortly after his inauguration on Thursday, just days after the ruling African National Congress (ANC) forced former president Mbeki to resign in a bitter internal power struggle with party boss Jacob Zuma.
South Africa’s first democratic leader and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela said on Friday Motlanthe was “eminently deserving” of the job and stressed the country was in “good hands” under him.
PHOTO: AFP
“You are a quiet, firm and principled leader, one who puts reason above emotions and one who seeks to unite rather than divide,” Mandela said in a letter.
Mandela also paid tribute to Mbeki, praising the achievements of his government as “impressive,” and wished his former deputy and successor well.
The new Cabinet members were sworn in on Friday in a reshuffle that won widespread praise in South African media — especially for Motlanthe’s decision to strip controversial health minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang of her post.
Nicknamed “Dr Beetroot” for her advocacy of vegetables and garlic to fight AIDS, both she and Mbeki were derided for delaying programs to treat the disease, which has infected more than 5 million South Africans.
She remains in Cabinet as minister in the presidency, but the advocacy group Treatment Action Campaign hailed the change, saying: “The period of politically supported AIDS denialism has ended.”
The group also praised her successor Barbara Hogan as “hard-working, competent and principled.”
Hogan said after her swearing in that she felt energetic about the challenges facing her department.
“There will be big changes but no dramatic changes,” she said.
Motlanthe also kept the respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, in a move welcomed by business leaders after a week in which markets were badly spooked by the crisis within the ruling party.
The Chamber of Mines, representing one of South Africa’s most important industries, praised “the swift and decisive manner in which President Motlanthe ... brought calm to the markets after the uncertainty of the past week.”
Motlanthe took pains to emphasize in his inaugural speech to parliament that he would continue the government’s economic policies, which have brought sustained growth, while also tackling the twin problems of poverty and crime.
“Motlanthe restores order,” said the Star newspaper’s front page, echoing sentiments of relief in the local press, which generally hailed the new president for moving quickly to install his Cabinet.
Despite the praise, the new president is expected to spend just a few months in office as he guides the country toward elections next year.
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