Former President Thabo Mbeki has suspended campaigning for the party he used to lead. ‘Diplomatic commitments’ were cited as the reason for the suspension of Mbeki’s involvement.
Mbeki had been campaigning for the party in KwaZulu-Natal but insiders said that he felt exploited. There were allegations that corrupt ANC leaders had tried to ‘hijack’ his efforts.
Insiders also said that Mbeki had postponed the Eastern Cape leg of his campaign after his office had asked who would be accompanying him in the province and who he would be engaging with.
It is not clear whether the rest of Mbeki’s campaigning programme will be rescheduled.