A FEW weeks ago an article appeared in the Sunday Times which reported on an alleged order given at the SABC by the head of News to ban any news items or interviews with the erstwhile president of the republic, Mr Thabo Mbeki. Since being "recalled" by the ruling party President Mbeki has largely been quiet and has virtually disappeared from public view, and his name has been skipped over by the current administration at auspicious occasions such as the State of the Nation as if he never existed. Whether the reports are true or not is debatable, but one cannot deny that there seems to be an attempt by the ruling party to wash away the remnants of Mbeki’s regime and his years in power.

I find the omission of President Mbeki in speeches or communiqués that deal with his administration, whether deliberate or inadvertent, to be an unnecessary slight on a man who dedicated his life to the service of his country and the ruling party. There are those who are quick to point out his faults, such as his AIDS denialism and his refusal to fire underperforming cabinet members, but there can be no doubt that in his time as president he enjoyed some great successes.

President Mbeki made great strides in improving some of the socioeconomic problems facing the country, he fostered the idea of the African Renaissance, he brokered peace in troubled nations in the region, and he presided over a successful financial period in the life of the Republic and played a major role in placing the country on the world stage as a great example of a developing nation which followed democratic principles. He gave foreign investors confidence in investing their money in the country and tried to assist the development of the SADC region and he backed the growth of trade between developing nations with the India Brazil South Africa (IBSA) trade initiative.

Despite his achievements he was mindful of the great socioeconomic problems facing the republic and their potential to heighten dissatisfaction with government by ordinary citizens. Upon taking office he stated, "The longer the situation of inequality and discontent with government delivery persisted, in spite of the gift of hope delivered to the people by democracy, the more entrenched will be the conviction that the concept of nation building is a mere mirage and that no basis exists, or will ever exist, to enable national reconciliation to take place."

He broached the subject of corruption across Africa and the need for the continent’s leadership to rid themselves of the negative tag of using state apparatus to gain personal wealth, stating "The time has come for us to call a halt to the seemingly socially approved deification of the acquisition of material wealth and the abuse of state power to impoverish the people and deny our continent’s possibility to achieve sustainable economic development."

Despite all his faults both real and imagined, President Mbeki was decisive and when he made a decision, whether correct or incorrect, he stuck by it and defended it with conviction. His leadership reflected his belief that Africa should take second place to no-one and his presidency sought to enhance Africa’s image just as much as South Africa’s. His contribution to the betterment of the continent through the streamlined African Union and the New Economic Partnership for Africa’s Development will long be remembered when people speak of Mbeki’s legacy.

He is one of the more intelligent men to grace a leadership position in Africa and his years of service to both Africa and South Africa should not be forgotten no matter who is in power. He encouraged the participation in government of all citizens and encouraged thinkers to contribute to policy-making with his periodic lekgotlas and various advisory councils.

When President Mbeki resigned he said that people should not "turn triumphalist because the sun shines", undoubtedly implicitly refering to people who had planned and executed his recall. At the time it seemed like sour grapes to some, but the current reported state of the Presidency may just be a clue to what Mbeki was talking about. The current President’s rhetoric has not been matched by action and as the months pass more scrutiny will be placed on the current leader to live up to post-World Cup promises.