OWN CORRESPONDENT Johannesburg | Thursday 2.00PM.
CORRECTIONAL Services Minister Sipo Mzimela has resigned his Cabinet position with immediate effect.
The embattled minister, who was last week fired by the Inkatha Freedom Party from his position as national deputy chairman, gave no reasons for resigning. Mzimela’s political future has been hanging in the balance since he called for a merger between the IFP and the African National Congress last year. He was formally fired last month following a vote of no confidence in him taken by the IFP’s national council in January.
Presidential spokesman Parks Mankahlana said soon after Mzimela’s resignation became public that he will be replaced as correctional services minister by IFP parliamentary caucus chairman Ben Skosana. Mankahlana confirmed that the president’s office received Mzimela’s letter of resignation on Wednesday night, and added a presidential minute replacing Mzimela with Skosana has been signed.
President Nelson Mandela on Thursday thanked Mzimela for his “outstanding contribution” in serving the people of South Africa.
Meanwhile, the Inkatha Freedom Party said it had no advance warning of Mzimela’s intention to quit. Party general secretary MZ Khumalo said on Thursday it is the IFP’s prerogative to fire Mzimela as a disciplinary measure. “The fact that we did not might indicate we did not really wish him to leave the party. But, of course, it’s his right to leave if he’s inclined that way.”