11 South Africa cabinet members resign

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) - Eleven key members of South Africa’s cabinet have resigned following President Thabo Mbeki’s decision to step down under pressure from his party, the presidency said Tuesday.

Widely respected Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, seen by investors as vital to the country’s stable economy and impressive growth, is one of the ministers who handed in his resignation.

But Manuel’s spokesman also made it clear that he was ready to serve the new administration.

“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.”

Eleven cabinet members including 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, will step down.

The others include: Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, Minister in the Presidency, Essop Pahad, Intelligence Minister Ronnie Kasrils, Correctional Services Minister Nconde Balfour, Public Enterprises Minister Alec Erwin, Science Minister Mosibudi Mangena, Public Works Minister Thoko Didiza and Administration Minister Geraldine Fraser Moloketi.

The deputy ministers for foreign affairs, Aziz Pahad, finance Jabu Moleketi and correctional services Loretta Jacobus will also leave their posts.

These cabinet members occupied some of the most important portfolios in the 31-member cabinet, which includes the president and his deputy.

Their decision to step down comes after Mbeki bowed to pressure from the ANC to tender his resignation in what the opposition has termed the settling of political scores.