BY PRINCE MANGOSUTHU BUTHELEZI MP, PRESIDENT OF THE IFP

"The nation must unite at this sombre moment" Prince Mangosuthu Buthelezi said today in response to President Mbeki's announcement that he is to dismiss the Deputy-President, Mr Jacob Zuma in the aftermath of Judge Hilary Squires ruling that he and Shabir Shaik had "a generally corrupt relationship".

Buthelezi said that President Mbeki was "correct" in exercising his constitutional prerogative to dismiss Mr Zuma because the "situation hung like a dark cloud over South Africa and would have eventually paralysed the executive". Buthelezi added it would have been difficult for Mr Mbeki to travel to Gleneagles for the G8 next month to ask for additional aid for Africa if Mr Zuma was still in office, as "transparency and accountability are the basic tenets of good governance".

Of Mr Zuma, Buthelezi said:

"On a personal note, I am naturally saddened that a leader of his stature from our province has fallen. Like many people, I have great respect for 'Msholozi' and share the pain of losing a leader of his calibre.

"He brought a certain charm, warmth and empathy for his people to his office. The breadth of Mr Zuma's support from the trade unions to the youth testifies to his humanity, which is the hallmark of the man. He will be sorely missed.