/ 29 May 1997

Tokyo to quit

THURSDAY, 8.00AM

GAUTENG Premier Tokyo Sexwale plans to leave politics in 1999, and has informed both the president and deputy president of his decision, his office announced yesterday.

No reasons were given, but Sexwale’s career in the ANC appears to have been blocked following public clashes with Thabo Mbeki last year and the nomination of Mapumalanga premier Mathews Phosa to the key deputy presidency position.

The stock exchange was abuzz with speculation yesterday that Sexwale might leave much sooner to take up a post in business, possibly a key executive job at JCI, now headed by Mzi Khumalo, or a position at Thebe, where his brother Johnny holds a senior position.

The turning point for Sexwale came last September, when he was involved in a public spat with Mbeki over claims Mbeki had ordered National Party leader FW de Klerk to investigate claims Sexwale had been involved in drug trafficking.

Sexwale clash with Mbeki Sept 20 1996

ENVIRONMENT