A secret United States cable released by WikiLeaks tells how former president Thabo Mbeki cried before announcing his resignation, the Times reported on Monday.
The document, from September 5 2008, tells of a meeting between deputy director-general of policy coordination to the presidency Vusi Gumede, analysts Thabileng Mothabi and Queeneth Mlaba and US officials, and tells how Mbeki broke down with “tears streaming” on the day he told the nation he would relinquish the presidency.
Mothabi was quoted as saying that Mbeki was “defiant in the view he was right”.
“He reportedly began to cry — ‘tears streaming’ — as he thanked those in the room and said how proud he was to have pursued his policies with conviction.” the paper quoted Mothabi as saying.
According to the cable, said the Times, Mothabi praised Mbeki for his intellect and then described his Mbeki’s successors — Kgalema Motlanthe and Jacob Zuma — as “dumb” and an “idiot” respectively.
Mothabi was quoted as saying in the meeting that “Motlanthe is dumb and does exactly what they [the African National Congress] tell him to do, but he will become president again”.
“The ANC has been priming him to be a leader for a long time. He captures the jargon more easily than Zuma … everyone sees Motlanthe as a caretaker for Zuma, but really the next five years Zuma will be a caretaker for Motlanthe.”
Mothabi then goes on to describe Zuma: “Zuma is an idiot … I mean really, really dumb on how policy is implemented.
“You notice that every time he is asked a question he just laughs and smiles and then quietly leans towards Gwede Mantashe [ANC secretary-general] so he can get the answer.”
The presidency refused to comment on Sunday evening, saying it did not respond “to rumours and gossip”.
Gumede and Mothabi — an intern at the time — have since left the presidency, said the Times, while Mothabi had not responded to an email. – Sapa