Statement on the resignation of members of Cabinet and Deputy Ministers

23 September 2008

President Thabo Mbeki has, to date, received letters of resignation from the following members of Cabinet which, regretfully, he has had to accept:

1. Deputy President [Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka]
2. Minister of Defence [Mosiuoa Lekota]
3. Minister of Finance [Trevor Manuel]
4. Minister in the Presidency, Dr. Essop Pahad
5. Minister of Intelligence [Ronnie Kasrils]
6. Minister of Correctional Services [Ngconde Balfour]
7. Minister of Public Enterprises [Alec Erwin]
8. Minister of Science and Technology [Mosibudi Mangena]
9. Minister of Public Works [Thoko Didiza]
10. Minister of Provincial and Local Government [Sydney Mufamadi]
11. Minister of Public Service and Administration [Geraldine Fraser-Moleketi]

The following Deputy Ministers have also tendered their resignations:
1. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Aziz Pahad
2. Deputy Minister of Finance and [Jabu Moleketi]
3. Deputy Minister of Correctional Services [Loretta Jacobus]

The resignations will be effective from the day that the President's resignation takes effect. All the Ministers have expressed their availability to assist the incoming administration in the hand-over process and any other assistance that might be sought from them. President Mbeki thanked the Deputy President, the Ministers and the Deputy Ministers for their dedicated service to the nation and wished them well in their future endeavours.

Statement issued by The Presidency, Union Buildings, City of Tshwane, September 23 2008