Mbeki bids farewell to the cabinet

Mishkah Anthony
25 September 2006

Outgoing President Thabo Mbeki bid farewell to his cabinet at the Union Buildings last night.

Mbeki read out a letter to the men and women that served with him. In the letter he writes, “I am certain that during the years that we have served in the national executive we have made mistakes”, and says the only way they could have avoided mistakes is if they did nothing to strive to social transformation of the country.

In his heartfelt letter Mbeki thanked his cabinet for their hard work and dedication.
He goes on to say, “as we bid farewell to one another we can do so with our heads held high”.

After the Farewell Cabinet meeting of the Mbeki government, a few hours before South Africa welcomes it’s new President.

Cabinet Ministers leaving the Union Buildings in Pretoria seemed to be high in spirits but speaking in his personal capacity outgoing Minister in the Presidency Essop Pahad’s disappointment was obvious.

“I think the decision was profoundly unjust, I feel aggrieved at the decision that the NEC took.”