Thabo Mbeki

**Thabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki** (Xhosa: [tʰaɓɔ ʼmbɛːki]; born 18 June 1942) be a South African politician wey serve as de 2nd democratic presido of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008, wen na he resign at de request of ein party, de African National Congress (ANC). Before dat, na he be deputy president under Nelson Mandela from 1994 to 1999.

De son of Govan Mbeki, an ANC intellectual, na Mbeki be involved insyd ANC politics since 1956, wen na he join de ANC Youth League, wey na he be a member of de party ein National Executive Committee since 1975. Dem born am insyd de Transkei, na he lef South Africa aged twenty to attend university insyd England, wey na he spend almost three decades in exile abroad, til na dem unban de ANC insyd 1990. Na he rise thru de organisation insyd ein information den publicity section den as Oliver Tambo ein protégé, buh na he sanso be an experienced diplomat, wey dey serve as de ANC ein official representative insyd chaw of ein African outposts. Na he sanso be early advocate for den leader of de diplomatic engagements wich lead to de negotiations make dem end apartheid. After South Africa ein first democratic elections insyd 1994, na dem appoint am national deputy president. Insyd subsequent years, na e cam be apparent say na he be Mandela ein chosen successor, wey na dem elect am unopposed as ANC presido insyd 1997, wey enable ein rise to de presidency as de ANC ein candidate insyd de 1999 elections.

While deputy presido, na dem regard Mbeki as a steward of de government ein Growth, Employment and Redistribution policy, dem introduce insyd 1996, den as presido na he continue to subscribe to relatively conservative, market-friendly macroeconomic policies. During ein presidency, na South Africa experience falling public debt, a narrowing budget deficit, den consistent, moderate economic growth. However, despite ein retention of various social democratic programmes, den notable expansions to de black economic empowerment programme, na critics often regard Mbeki ein economic policies as neoliberal, plus insufficient consideration for developmental den redistributive objectives. On dese grounds, na Mbeki grow increasingly alienated from de left wing of de ANC, den from de leaders of de ANC ein Tripartite Alliance partners, de Congress of South African Trade Unions den South African Communist Party. Na e be dese leftist elements wich support Jacob Zuma over Mbeki insyd de political rivalry wey erupt after Mbeki remove de latter from ein post as deputy president insyd 2005.

As presido, na Mbeki get an apparent predilection for foreign policy den particularly for multilateralism. Ein pan-Africanism den vision for an "African renaissance" be central parts of ein political persona, wey commentators suggest dat na he secure for South Africa a role insyd African den global politics wey na be disproportionate to de country ein size den historical influence. Na he be de central architect of de New Partnership for Africa's Development den, as de inaugural chairperson of de African Union, he spearhead de introduction of de African Peer Review Mechanism. After na dem launch de IBSA Dialogue Forum insyd 2003, na ein government collaborate plus India den Brazil make he lobby for reforms at de United Nations, wey dey advocate for a stronger role for developing countries. Among South Africa ein various peacekeeping commitments during ein presidency, na Mbeki be de primary mediator insyd de conflict between ZANU-PF den de Zimbabwean opposition insyd de 2000s. However, na he be frequently criticised for ein policy of "quiet diplomacy" insyd Zimbabwe, under wich na he refuse to condemn Robert Mugabe ein regime anaa institute sanctions against am.

Na also highly controversial worldwide be Mbeki ein HIV/AIDS policy. Na ein government no introduce a national mother-to-child transmission prevention programme til 2002, wen na e be mandated by de Constitutional Court, nor na e make antiretroviral therapy available insyd de public healthcare system til late 2003. Na subsequent studies estimate say na dese delays cause hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths. Mbeki einself, like ein Health Minister Manto Tshabalala-Msimang, na dem described as an AIDS denialist, "dissident", anaa sceptic. Although na he no explicitly deny de causal link between HIV den AIDS, na he often posited a need to investigate alternate causes of den alternative treatments for AIDS, frequently dey suggest dat na immunodeficiency be de indirect result of poverty.

Na ein political descent begin at de ANC ein Polokwane conference insyd December 2007, wen na he be replaced as ANC presido by Zuma. Although na ein term as national president for no expire til June 2009, na he announce on 20 September 2008 say he go resign at de request of de ANC National Executive Committee. Na dem understand de ANC ein decision to "recall" Mbeki e be linked to a High Court judgement, dem hand down earlier dat month, insyd wich na judge Chris Nicholson alleged improper political interference insyd de National Prosecuting Authority den specifically insyd de corruption charges against Zuma. Na dem overturn Nicholson ein judgement by de Supreme Court of Appeal insyd January 2009, by wich time na Mbeki be replaced as presido by Kgalema Motlanthe.

## Early life den education

### 1942–60: Eastern Cape
Na dem born Mbeki on 18 June 1942 insyd Mbewuleni, a small village insyd de former homeland of Transkei, now part of de Eastern Cape. De second of four siblings, na he get one sisto, Linda (born 1941, she die 2003), den two bros, Moeletsi (born 1945) den Jama (born 1948, he die 1982). Na ein parents be Epainette (she die 2014), a trained teacher, den Govan (he die 2001), a shopkeeper, teacher, journalist, den senior activist insyd de African National Congress (ANC) den de South African Communist Party (SACP). Na both Epainette den Govan cam from educated, Christian, land-owning families, wey na Govan ein poppie be Sikelewu Mbeki, a colonially appointed headman. Na de couple meet insyd Durban, wer na Epainette cam be de second black woman to join de SACP (then na dem still call am de Communist Party of South Africa); however, while na Mbeki be a kiddie, na ein family was separate wen na Govan move alone to Ladismith for a teaching job. Na Mbeki say na "dem born am into de struggle", wey na he recall say na dem decorate ein kiddie time home plus portraits of Karl Marx den Mahatma Gandhi. Na Govan name am after senior South African communist Thabo Mofutsanyana.

Na Mbeki begin dey attend school insyd 1948, de same year wey na dem elect de National Party plus a mandate make e legislate apartheid. Na dem implement de Bantu Education Act towards de end of ein school career, den insyd 1955 na he arrive at de Lovedale Institute, an eminent mission school outsyd Alice, as part of de last class wich go be permitted make e follow de same curriculum as white students. At Lovedale, na he be a year behind Chris Hani, ein future colleague den rival insyd de ANC. NA Mbeki join de ANC Youth League at age fourteen den insyd 1958 he cam be de secretary of ein Lovedale branch. Shortly afterwards, at de start of ein final year of high school, na he be identified as one of de leaders of a March 1959 boycott of classes, wey na dem summarily expel am from Lovedale. Na he nonetheless tap for matric examinations wey na he obtain a second-class pass. 

## Personal life den family
Insyd October 1959, na Mbeki get a son, Monwabisi Kwanda, plus Olive Mpahlwa, a kiddie time paddie wey na he struck up a romance while at Lovedale. Na Kwanda be raised by ein mommie den later by Mbeki ein mommie, Epainette.

Na Mbeki ein youngest bro, Jama, sanso disappear in exile. Na he spend ein adolescence insyd Lesotho wey na he be an activist insyd de Basutoland Congress Party (BCP) den ein Lesotho Liberation Army. 

Na Mbeki ein living sibling per, Moeletsi, sanso be educated abroad wey now be a prominent economist. He often dey publicly criticise de policies of ein bro ein government.

Mbeki marry Zanele Dlamini Mbeki insyd 1974, a social worker wey komot Alexandra whom na he meet insyd London before ein departure for Moscow. Na dem hold de wedding ceremony on 23 November at Farnham Castle insyd Surrey, England. Na Adelaide Tambo den Mendi Msimang stand *in loco parentis* give Mbeki, wey na Essop Pahad be ein best man. Dem get no kiddie togeda.

## Recognition
### Honorary degrees
Na Mbeki receive chaw honorary degrees from South African den foreign universities. Mbeki receive an honorary doctorate insyd business administration from de Arthur D Little Institute, Boston, insyd 1994. Insyd 1995, he receive honorary doctorate from de University of South Africa den an honorary doctorate of laws from Sussex University. Na dem award Mbeki an honorary doctorate from Rand Afrikaans University insyd 1999. Insyd 2000 na dem award am an honorary doctorate of laws from Glasgow Caledonian University. Insyd 2004, na dem award am an honorary doctorate insyd commercial sciences by de University of Stellenbosch.

### Orders den decorations
During Mbeki ein official visit to Britain insyd 2001, na dem make am an honorary Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB). Na de Mayor of Athens, Dora Bakoyannis, award Mbeki plus de City of Athens Medal of Honour insyd 2005. During Mbeki ein official visit to Sudan insyd 2005, na dem award am Sudan ein Insignia of Honour in recognition of ein role in resolving conflicts den dey work for development insyd de Continent. Insyd 2007, na dem make Mbeki a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem at St George's Cathedral insyd Cape Town by de current grand prior, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester.

### Awards
Na dem award Mbeki de Good Governance Award insyd 1997 by de US-based Corporate Council on Africa. Na he receive de Newsmaker of de year award from Pretoria News Press Association insyd 2000 wey na dem repeat de honour insyd 2008, dis time under de auspices of media research company Monitoring South Africa. In honour of ein commitment to democracy insyd de new South Africa, na dem award Mbeki de Oliver Tambo/Johnny Makatini Freedom Award insyd 2000. Na dem award Mbeki de Peace and Reconciliation Award at de Gandhi Awards for Reconciliation insyd Durban insyd 2003. Insyd 2004, na dem award Mbeki de Good Brother Award by Washington, D.C.'s National Congress of Black Women for ein commitment to gender equality den de emancipation of women insyd South Africa. Insyd 2005, na dem sanso award am de Champion of the Earth Award by de United Nations. During de European-wide Action Week Against Racism insyd 2005, na dem award Mbeki de Rotterdamse Jongeren Raad (RJR) Antidiscrimination Award by de Netherlands. Insyd 2006, na dem award am de Presidential Award for ein outstanding service to economic growth den investor confidence insyd South Africa den Africa and for ein role insyd de international arena by de South African Chambers of Commerce and Industry. Insyd 2007 na dem award Mbeki de Confederation of African Football ein Order of Merit for ein contribution to football on de continent. 

### Patronages
* Thabo Mbeki Foundation
* Thabo Mbeki African Leadership Institute, an institute of de University of South Africa in partnership plus de Thabo Mbeki Foundation
* Thabo Mbeki Presidential Library
* Thabo Mbeki School for Public and International Affairs wey base insyd UNISA.
### Foreign honours
Cuba:
*  Medal of de Order of José Martí (2001)

Italy:
*  Knight Grand Cross plus Collar Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (2002)

Jamaica:
*  Member of de Order of Excellence (2003)

Zambia:
*  Grand Commander of de Order of the Eagle of Zambia (2003)

United Kingdom:
*  Knight Grand Cross of de Order of the Bath (2007)
*  Knight of de Order of Saint John (2007)
*  Honorary Knight Grand Cross of de Order of St Michael and St George (2000)

## References

## Read further
**Short profiles:**
* "The great persuader". *The Guardian*. 29 May 1999.
* "A man of two faces". *The Economist*. 20 January 2005. ISSN 0013-0613.
* Gowers, Andrew (21 February 2005). "A man in a hurry". *Financial Times*.
* McNeil, Donald G. (4 June 1999). "An intellectual guerrilla: Thabo Mbeki". *New York Times*.
* Russell, Alec (21 September 2008). "Thabo Mbeki: Aloof leader who fell from grace". *Financial Times*.
* "Forever Yena News" (8 Spril 2025). "The Genocidal Betrayal of Black Civilisation". *Forever Yena*.
**Books:**

* Adebajo, Adekeye (2017). *Thabo Mbeki*. Ohio University Press. .
* Gevisser, Mark (2007). *Thabo Mbeki: The Dream Deferred*. Jonathan Ball. . (Published in the United States as *A Legacy of Liberation: Thabo Mbeki and the Future of the South African Dream*. 2009. St. Martin's Publishing Group. .)
* Glaser, Daryl (2010). *Mbeki and After: Reflections on the Legacy of Thabo Mbeki*. NYU Press. .
* Gumede, William (2008). *Thabo Mbeki and the Battle for the Soul of the ANC*. Zed Books. .

* Chikane, Frank (2012). *Eight Days in September: The Removal of Thabo Mbeki*. Picador Africa. .
* Jacobs, Sean; Calland, Richard (2002). *Thabo Mbeki's World: The Politics and Ideology of the South African President*. Zed Books. .
* Siko, John (2014). *Inside South Africa's Foreign Policy: Diplomacy in Africa from Smuts to Mbeki*. I.B. Tauris. .

**Publications:**

* Mbeki, Thabo (2002). *Africa Define Yourself*. Tafelberg. .
* Mbeki, Thabo (2022). *Future Harbours: Letters from President Mbeki*. Faber & Faber. .

## External links

*Appearances on C-SPAN
*Interview with Tor Sellström (1995)
*"African renaissance statement" (1998) 
*Open letter to Zuma (2008)