ANC joy over Mbeki ouster may be short lived

By Michael Georgy - Analysis

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Jacob Zuma may not be celebrating for long after his ruling ANC's removal of rival South African President Thabo Mbeki raised questions over the future of the divided party and his ability to lead the country.

In the most dramatic political crisis since apartheid ended in 1994, the ANC announced on Saturday it had recalled Mbeki before his term ends. He agreed to step down a few hours later.

The move exposed the worst internal crisis in the history of the African National Congress and increased the chance it could split before next year's election, which Zuma is expected to win because of the party's electoral dominance.

It shows the growing strength of the ANC's more radical wing, which may hurt Zuma's efforts to reassure foreign investors that left-leaning allies will not force him to steer the country away from pro-business policies.

The precedent could also be a dangerous one for Zuma himself if he fails to fulfill the hopes of his allies on the left.

"Labour and the left is in a stronger position then when it was six months ago," said Nic Borain, political consultant to HSBC Securities. "This victorious triumphalism hurts the country. It is bad for business."

ANC militants led the charge against Mbeki after a judge threw out graft charges against Zuma and suggested there was high-level political meddling in the case.

ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe repeatedly said during the announcement the decision to recall Mbeki, who lost the ANC leadership to Zuma in December, was made by consensus and was designed to ensure political stability.

But analysts have their doubts.

DEEPER RIFTS

While the move vindicated Zuma, it may have caused irreparable damage to the ANC and deprived him of the chance to take over Africa's biggest economy backed by a united party after a transitional government.

Party sources said deputy ANC leader Kgalema Motlanthe would be named interim president until the election.

The ANC's base of support ranges from radical leftists to business tycoons. But it has been in crisis for several years due to the infighting between the Zuma and Mbeki camps, in sharp contrast to when party leaders were united against apartheid.

Mbeki's brother, Moeletsi Mbeki, a political analyst who has been a tough critic of Mbeki, was quoted in a newspaper as saying the ANC's purge was a "recipe for civil war" that set a dangerous precedent.

Uncertainty may deepen if Mbeki supporters split from the ANC and contest elections as a breakaway party in 2009, as media reports suggest they will.