African National Congress deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe, recently sworn in as an MP, will remain on the back benches of Parliament for now and will not join the Cabinet, he said on Thursday.
”I will be on the back benches. I’m going to have to learn how the institution works,” he told reporters at the International Media Forum in Johannesburg.
He described his new status as MP as a ”small matter”.
”It’s time to learn the ropes. I’ll sit as a back-bencher and try to learn as much as possible until next year’s election.”
Asked whether he will become a member of Cabinet soon, he replied: ”No, not at all,” adding: ”I’m brand new. They still have to remove the plastic covers for me. In the next three months or so I will be able to give a more informed view [on the first impressions of the new position].”
Motlanthe reiterated that the ruling ANC did not believe an early election to remove President Thabo Mbeki from office was necessary.
”There is no basis, there is no need for such a recourse …
”If anybody believes the president should vacate office, that person must understand the process. To give effect to that decision, one would need 75% of Parliament to support that … People say these things without proper regard to how the institution works.”
Motlanthe was sworn in as an MP on Tuesday after the ANC put pressure on Mbeki to do so.
Until Tuesday, none of the newly elected top leaders of the ANC held parliamentary positions. — Sapa