afrol News, 25 September - South Africa's third black president Kgalema Motlanthe, was sworn in today in Cape Town, to replace Thabo Mbeki, who is stepping down.

Mr Motlanthe who is ruling African National Congress (ANC) deputy leader carries hopes of nation and investors that he can bring an end to biggest upheaval in country's politics since fall of apartheid 14 years ago.

He was overwhelming chosen by legislators to post of caretaker president following last weekend\'s dramatic ousting of Mr Mbeki, successor to Nelson Mandela.

Veteran ANC official is seen as a figure that could ease tensions between supporters of Mr Mbeki and party leader Jacob Zuma.

He will serve until polls next year, when Mr Zuma, is widely expected to become president.

Mr Mbeki announced his resignation on Sunday amid claims of political interference in a corruption case against Mr Zuma.

Mr Mbeki denies allegations but said he was stepping down in interests of party unity, as ANC leadership said it was recalling him.

Mr Motlanthe is a long-serving member of party hierarchy and a man generally seen as a safe pair of hands, especially towards election expected before July next year.

New president, 59 years old, was born in Alexandra township, on outskirts of Johannesburg, to a working-class family. During 1970s, Mr Motlanthe helped recruit anti-apartheid fighters.

He was imprisoned in 1977 on Robben Island, along with Mr Mandela.

After his release in 1987, he became a top official of National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) and then ANC, although he only became an MP in May this year.

South Africa's opposition Democratic Alliance had put forward chairman Joe Seremane to challenge in presidential vote, but as ANC has a huge majority, Mr Motlanthe's victory was a foregone conclusion.

He won 269 of 368 votes cast, said constitutional court's Chief Justice Pius Langa.

"I accordingly declare honourable Kgalema Motlanthe, the duly elected president of republic of South Africa," he added, to loud cheers from national assembly.

Media reports show that one of his immediate tasks will be to ensure a smooth political transition given much talk of feuding and divisions within ANC.

Mr Zuma is not an MP and so was not eligible to be elected president, hence, he reportedly watched today's poll from public gallery.

Mr Mbeki had reportedly been invited to attend parliamentary session, but declined.

Earlier on, Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe is said to have described Mr Mbeki's resignation as "devastating".

Mr Mbeki was key mediator during months of negotiations that recently led to a power-sharing agreement in Zimbabwe.

"It's devastating news that Mr Mbeki is no longer president, but that is action of South African people," Mr Mugabe was quoted as saying by Zimbabwean media.

It is not clear whether Mr Mbeki will continue with his role. Mr Mbeki's departure led to a flurry of resignations from cabinet and caused uncertainty on markets.

Deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka along with 11 cabinet ministers who include finance minister Trevor Manuel and his defence counterpart Mosiuoa Lekota resigned yesterday.

But Mr Zuma, who enjoys much of his support from people who say government should do more to relief poverty, has stressed there will be no change of economic policy.

Last Saturday, ANC asked for Mr Mbeki's resignation after considering allegations that his office meddled in a corruption case against Mr Zuma.

Case was dismissed last week on a technicality. But in ruling, Judge Chris Nicholson suggested he believed there might have been political involvement in case.

It remains to be seen whether or not charges will be pressed for a third time against popular ANC leader.

© afrol News

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