Publication: Cape Times Issued: Date: 2006-08-31 Reporter: Angela Quintal Reporter: Reporter:

Mbeki 'Down with Flu, Not Dodging Debate'

 

Publication 

Cape Times
Date

2006-08-31

Reporter

Angela Quintal

Web Link

www.capetimes.co.za

 

President Thabo Mbeki's absence from the National Assembly yesterday had nothing to do with ructions in his ruling party's parliamentary caucus, but was the result of a simple dose of flu, said the presidency.

At a hastily convened press conference in Cape Town yesterday, director-general in the presidency Frank Chikane could not say whether Mbeki would also be booked off today, when a heated caucus meeting is expected.

The president was to have replied to his once-a-quarter question time in the National Assembly yesterday afternoon, but because of flu was advised by his doctor to re-schedule and rest.

Given that Mbeki would be on his feet for two hours fielding and replying to questions "the doctor thought it wasn't wise to do", Chikane said.

It is the first time that Mbeki has cancelled an important engagement because of ill health. A new date has yet to be finalised *2, but the president will reply to the same questions, including those on the ANC succession battle, corruption and the arms deal *1 and national reconciliation.

Mbeki was, however, not so ill that he would have to avoid normal appointments *3, and these were likely to go ahead, Chikane said.

Questioned whether Mbeki was avoiding parliament given the divisions in the party's parliamentary caucus, Chikane said: "There's nothing he can't handle. He can do anything *4."

With acknowledgement to Angela Quintal and Cape Times.


*1       This two hour flu is about as credible as the amnesia about the meetings with Thomson-CSF - incredible.


*2      If there is indeed a rescheduling, then this has been arranged to buy more time to do damage control.


*3      Not so ill that he would have to avoid normal appointments, just ill enough  to avoid the two minute appointments with Eddie Trent, Tony Leon and maybe Patricia de Lille.


*4 The Reverand is right. So far the President has been able to do anything : arrange a sweet, sweet arms deal, turn an Auditor-General, Public Protector and National Director of Public Prosecutions into Three Stooges, a Minister of Justice and National Director of Public Prosecutions into Two Jackasses, an Arms Deal Joint Investigation Report into a pathetic whitewash, a crusading anti-corruption judge into a private investigator, inter alia.

But can he avoid The Young Communist League.