'Elder brother' Motlanthe takes South Africa helm
Thursday, 25 September 2008
REUTERS/MIKE HUTCHINGS
Kgalema Motlanthe takes the oath of office as South Africa's president in Cape Town
ENLARGE
Print 
EmailSouth Africa's new president aims to heal seismic splits within the governing African National Congress.
Motlanthe, 59, is known as "the elder brother" because of his calm and collected manner in even the most treacherous political waters.
His reputation as a bridge-builder will be tested as he fills the uncertain gap created by the ANC's decision to eject former president Thabo Mbeki, just months before the end of his term.
With elections due next year, Motlanthe must ease the divisions between supporters of Mbeki and the ANC's new leader Jacob Zuma - two rivals whose long-time feud was finally settled with Mbeki's forced departure last weekend.
Motlanthe has distanced himself and the party from near-hysterical calls by the party's youth league to spill blood and kill for Zuma.
No comments:
Post a Comment