Eight days in september the removal of thabo mbeki pdf

Eight days in september the removal of thabo mbeki pdf full#

Needless to say, Mbeki obliged and followed through on the ANCвЂ™s demands though it is clear that this was emotionally taxing for him, for those who served him and those who were loyal to him. Yet there was pressure and demand for it to be done in less than a week. An example of this is the hand-over process that the president had to do, moving from the official residence, the provision for the sorting of high level classified or declassified state information, etc. It is clear that the most important thing was getting rid of Mbeki and getting revenge though a lot of processes could have, in real terms, taken months to wrap up. The urgency with which the ANC wanted Mbeki out is clear through the fact they cared very little about his impending international engagements. This is perhaps the reason why ANC top brass spared little brutality upon ousting him. Though Chikane maintains that Mbeki is a man of principle, it is hard to understand why he was willing do like many other African leaders who just wouldnвЂ™t let democracy run its course. The beast reared its ugly head in Polokwane, 2007, where Mbeki contended for a third term against then favourite deputy-president of the ANC Jacob Zuma. Perhaps then the complacency, greedy personal agendas and large-scale rot reflected in the media is a result of the comfortable position the ruling party believes it has carved amongst the majority of the populace. One of the critical things that the ANC continues to overlook is, as alluded to by Chikane, that the liberation movement was the means to an end, and not merely an end in itself. Here are some of the things that stood out for me a lot of which kept me nodding in concurrence (hint hint, BIG word). However, MbekiвЂ™s leadership style and significantly, his (at times tainted) legacy, remains the common thread running throughout.

The book also covers the transition that the entire country had to witness as one sitting president was swapped for another. Mostly, he makes reference to the relationship between the African National Congress (ANC) and Mbeki. The premise of the book rests on his personal experience of that period, having been hurled into the storm in his position as Director-General (DG) in the Presidency, as MbekiвЂ™s confidant and comrade.

Eight days in september the removal of thabo mbeki pdf full#

вЂњ full of comrades and some family members вЂ¦some wept in disbelief at what had happened and others pondered why he could not be allowed to finish his term of officeвЂ¦Greeting them was as much of a challenge as doing so in a bereaved family.вЂќ He captures the mood of the period acutely in writing that the presidentвЂ™s official residence This politically tumultuous period is the very matter covered by Rev. Though I was, quite simply, one of those people who had grown tired of MbekiвЂ™s bully antics in government, his monopolising of law enforcement bodies his almost naked defence of corrupt former police commissioner Jackie Selebi and the disbandment of the Scorpions, nothing could have prepared South Africa-or Mbeki himself- for the humiliating manner in which he was вЂњrecalledвЂќ from his presidential seat. What the hell does the word вЂrecallвЂ™ mean, anyway? A polite way to say, вЂњYouвЂ™re firedвЂќ? You best be advised that South African politicians have some of the most interesting vocabulary, so the use of BIG words is a prerogative in these circles.

One of the first things to come to mind as I picked up this book to read was the sombre memories of the вЂњrecallingвЂќ of former statesman, Thabo Mbeki. Though I suspect book reviews on this blog will be few and far between -because the author employs a devastatingly slow reading pace- I solemnly swear to do my best. It has been proven that South Africans do very little reading, for one reason or the other, which is why there are various NGOs and NPOs running reading and literacy projects across the country to encourage active reading. Oh, they are no longer on my shelf by the way, had to move them to the closet instead so they wouldnвЂ™t gather any more dust. Though I also subscribed to a book club, I admit-sheepish grin in tow- that all I have done is watch that stack of books pile up on my shelf. One would have thought that yours truly would have finished the book in the blink of an eye judging by the initial excitement at having it lent to me and for reasons pertaining to the book not being mine. Unfortunately, one other thing that I have carried around in my bag for months (very unnecessary) was a senior colleagueвЂ™s copy of Reverend Frank ChikaneвЂ™s book. EIGHT DAYS IN SEPTEMBER: THE REMOVAL OF THABO MBEKI