afrol News, 12 November - South Africa's Constitutional Court has dismissed an urgent application by former president Thabo Mbki to oppose a high court ruling that allegedly cost him his job, reports said today.

Mr Mbeki who was controversially ousted as president by ruling African National Congress party filed papers on 22 September against parts of court's ruling, which prompted ANC to force him to resign.

The eight panel of judges said that it would not be in the interest of justice to entertain Mr Mbeki's suit, local newspaper The Star said.

In papers filed at Constitutional Court and served on Mr Jacob Zuma and acting prosecuting head Mokotedi Mpshe, Mbeki stated: "It is unfair and unjust for me to be judged and condemned on the basis of the findings in Zuma matter. The interests of justice would demand the matter be rectified."

But, pointing out that National Prosecuting Authority was itself appealing against Judge Nicholson's ruling in the Supreme Court of Appeal on November 28, Constitutional Court Deputy Judge President Dikgang Moseneke and seven other judges on Tuesday dismissed former president's appeal application.

Mr Mbeki said Judge Nicholson's judgment was related to decision by ruling party to remove him from office, about six months before his term would have ended.

Mr Mbeki argued that he had no chance to give evidence on allegations of conspiracy in Mr Zuma's trial and that he was recalled by ruling ANC on the basis of the judgement.

Mbeki was sacked just months before end of his mandate, after serving two presidential terms, in the culmination of a long-running power-struggle with Mr Zuma.

ANC began to fracture in 2005 when Mr Mbeki dismissed Mr Zuma as his vice president amid allegations of corruption. The divisions widened last December when Mr Zuma seized control of Africa's oldest political movement and won nomination as ANC's presidential candidate in next year's elections.

The in-fighting exposed deep splits within the party that led struggle against apartheid, giving birth to a breakaway movement headed by former defence minister Mosiuoa "Terror" Lekota, president Mbeki's loyalist.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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