ANC begins talks on ousting Mbeki

President Thabo Mbeki's political future hung in the balance yesterday as South Africa's ruling party debated whether to force him from office and a leading former judge said he should be put on trial for allegedly misusing his power to try to imprison the man likely to succeed him, Jacob Zuma.

The African National Congress national executive began a three-day meeting at which Mbeki's future will be decided after a high court judge accused the president and senior justice officials of being part of an illegal conspiracy to charge Zuma, the ANC's president, with corruption for political ends.

Mbeki's critics were lobbying hard for his removal, although earlier in the week Zuma was more cautious. South Africa's influential council of churches warned that ousting Mbeki could create chaos.

The Guardian