Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06PRETORIA468
2006-02-06 14:29:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Pretoria
Cable title:  

MBEKI SAYS HE WILL NOT SEEK THIRD TERM

Tags:  PGOV KDEM SF 
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VZCZCXRO7148
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR
DE RUEHSA #0468 0371429
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 061429Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY PRETORIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1330
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS PRETORIA 000468 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S M. TABLER-STONE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SF
SUBJECT: MBEKI SAYS HE WILL NOT SEEK THIRD TERM

This Cable is Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet
distribution.

UNCLAS PRETORIA 000468

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/S M. TABLER-STONE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KDEM SF
SUBJECT: MBEKI SAYS HE WILL NOT SEEK THIRD TERM

This Cable is Sensitive but Unclassified. Not for Internet
distribution.


1. (U) President Mbeki said in a press interview February 5
that he will not/not seek a third term as South African
President. Mbeki was last elected in 2004 for a second
five-year term. Section 88 of the South African Constitution
limits presidents to two terms of office, and a third term
for Mbeki would have required a constitutional amendment.
Mbeki said the ANC has "taken a stand not to alter the
constitution even with two-thirds majority support in
government."


2. (U) Mbeki's comments put to rest recent speculation about
a third term caused by an initiative of governing alliance
junior partner, the South African National Civic Organization
(SANCO). SANCO head Mlungisi Hlongwane said on January 28
that he would table a motion in the governing alliance to
change the Constitution to remove presidential term limits.
Hlongwane argued that term limits are a European concept and
deny South Africa "the opportunity to sustain development
programmes that had been started." The ANC's other alliance
partners, the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU)
and South African Communist Party (SACP),firmly rejected
Hlongwane's suggestion to amend the constitution, as have
most media commentators.


3. (SBU) Comment: While Mbeki rejected the possibility of
running for another term as South African President in 2009,
we note that he did not/not close the door on pursuing a
third term as ANC President in 2007.
TEITELBAUM