Media Reaction - South Africa, Mbeki Resignation

UNCLAS STOCKHOLM 000640 SIPDIS SECSTATE FOR INR/R/MR, EUR/PPD, EUR/NB, EUR/PA, EUR/FO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO PINS PHUM PREF EUN SW SUBJECT: Media Reaction - South Africa, Mbeki Resignation ¶I. On September 23, the conservative Stockholm morning daily "Svenska Dagbladet" ran a signed editorial by editorial writer Claes Arvidssonaa titled "It May Become Much Worse with Jacob Zuma:" "There is no reason to regret the fall of President Thabo Mbeki. As Vice President to Nelson Mandela and as President for almost two terms of office his best-before date had expired. His legacy includes a wise economic policy but also a disastrous view on HIV/AIDS, an unwillingness to tackle domestic criminality and impassivity vis-`-vis characters like Robert Mugabe. "Jacob Zuma is a more leftist ANC Veteran than Mbeki and has a curter image, which bodes no good for South Africa.... "Nelson Mandela was a symbol of the dream of a new South Africa - Thabo Mbeki for what it became. Jacob Zuma may be the man who will make the dream die down." II. On September 23, the independent, liberal Stockholm morning daily "Dagens Nyheter" ran a signed editorial by foreign affairs commentator Per Ahlin, who warned of the ANC's dominance in South Africa. "Thabo Mbeki was forced to leave. Opposition within the ruling ANC party was too strong. His days were numbered...and he did not manage to fend off the new party leader Jacob Zuma.... "The ANC's political dominance is total. South Africa is on its way to becoming a one-party state. It is true that this is the result of democratic elections, but nevertheless.... "Now, when Mbeki has been forced to leave, some people believe that the party may once again be united, and that the struggle, which has been personified by Mbeki and Zuma, now will become history. Others warn of an approaching political unrest in the country that may even result in a divided ANC.... "Perhaps what we can see now is a real and permanent rift and perhaps one party will be divided in two. If so, this may be a good thing. It is not healthy in any country that one party has such a dominating role like the ANC, particularly in a young democracy like South Africa." SILVERMAN