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Thabo Mbeki

Thabo Mbeki
Portrait of Thabo Mbeki
2nd President of South Africa
In office
14 June 1999 – 24 September 2008
Deputy Jacob Zuma
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka
Preceded by Nelson Mandela
Succeeded by Kgalema Motlanthe (as President)
Ivy Matsepe-Casaburri (as Acting President)
Deputy President of South Africa
In office
10 May 1994 – 14 June 1999
Serving with F. W. de Klerk
Until 30 June 1996
President Nelson Mandela
Preceded by Office established
Succeeded by Jacob Zuma
1st Chairperson-in-office of the Commonwealth of Nations
In office
12 November 1999 – 2 March 2002
Head Elizabeth II
Preceded by Position established
Succeeded by John Howard
Chancellor, University of South Africa
Assumed office
8 December 2016
Preceded by Bernard Ngoepe
Personal details
Born (1942-06-18) 18 June 1942 (age 74)
Mbewuleni, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Nationality South African
Political party African National Congress
Spouse(s) Zanele Dlamini Mbeki
Children Monwabise Kwanda
Alma mater University of London
University of Sussex
Signature Signature of Thabo Mbeki

Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki (Xhosa pronunciation: [tʰaɓɔ mbɛːkʼi]; born 18 June 1942) is a South African politician who served nine years as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. On 20 September 2008, with about nine months left in his second term, Mbeki announced his resignation after being recalled by the National Executive Committee of the ANC, following a conclusion by judge C. R. Nicholson of improper interference in the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), including the prosecution of Jacob Zuma for corruption. On 12 January 2009, the Supreme Court of Appeal unanimously overturned judge Nicholson's judgment but the resignation stood.

During his time in office the economy grew at an average rate of 4.5% per year. Mbeki created employment in the middle sectors of the economy and oversaw a fast-growing black middle class with the implementation of Black Economic Empowerment (BEE). This growth exacerbated the demand for trained professionals strained by emigration due to violent crime, but failed to address unemployment amongst the unskilled bulk of the population. He attracted the bulk of Africa's Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and made South Africa the focal point of African growth. He was the architect of NEPAD whose aim is to develop an integrated socio-economic development framework for Africa. He also oversaw the successful building of economic bridges to BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) nations with the eventual formation of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Dialogue Forum to "further political consultation and co-ordination as well as strengthening sectoral co-operation, and economic relations".


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