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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| South Africa set for new leader | South Africa set for new leader |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| South Africa's parliament is due to choose an interim president, following the resignation of Thabo Mbeki. | South Africa's parliament is due to choose an interim president, following the resignation of Thabo Mbeki. |
| The new leader is expected to be Kgalema Motlanthe, who is currently the deputy head of the governing African National Congress (ANC). | The new leader is expected to be Kgalema Motlanthe, who is currently the deputy head of the governing African National Congress (ANC). |
| Mr Motlanthe is seen as a calming figure who could help heal tensions in the divided party. | Mr Motlanthe is seen as a calming figure who could help heal tensions in the divided party. |
| He will serve until polls next year, when Mr Mbeki's rival, Jacob Zuma, is widely expected to become president. | He will serve until polls next year, when Mr Mbeki's rival, Jacob Zuma, is widely expected to become president. |
| Mr Mbeki announced his resignation on Sunday over claims of political interference in a corruption case against Mr Zuma. | |
| He denies the allegations but said he was stepping down at the request of the ANC in the interests of party unity. | He denies the allegations but said he was stepping down at the request of the ANC in the interests of party unity. |
| KGALEMA MOTLANTHE 1949: Born 1967: Detained for 11 months1977: Sentenced to 10 years on Robben Island 1987: Joined National Union of Mineworkers, rising to become its secretary-general1997: Elected ANC secretary-general2007: Elected ANC's deputy president2008: Becomes an MP and minister without portfolio | KGALEMA MOTLANTHE 1949: Born 1967: Detained for 11 months1977: Sentenced to 10 years on Robben Island 1987: Joined National Union of Mineworkers, rising to become its secretary-general1997: Elected ANC secretary-general2007: Elected ANC's deputy president2008: Becomes an MP and minister without portfolio |
| Mr Motlanthe will be elected at a parliamentary sitting in Cape Town. | |
| He is a long-serving member of the ANC hierarchy and a man generally seen as a safe pair of hands, reports the BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles. | He is a long-serving member of the ANC hierarchy and a man generally seen as a safe pair of hands, reports the BBC's Southern Africa correspondent, Peter Biles. |
| The immediate task will be to ensure a smooth political transition, given much talk of feuding and divisions within the ANC, our reporter adds. | The immediate task will be to ensure a smooth political transition, given much talk of feuding and divisions within the ANC, our reporter adds. |
| Mr Mbeki's departure has led to a flurry of resignations from the cabinet and caused uncertainty on the markets. | Mr Mbeki's departure has led to a flurry of resignations from the cabinet and caused uncertainty on the markets. |