Johannesburg - African National Congress (ANC) deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe was due to be sworn in as South Africa's third president since democracy in 
1994 on Thursday, five days after Thabo Mbeki was forced out of the job by his party.

Mbeki's nine years as president, which followed Nelson Mandela's single five-year term, formally came to an end at midnight on Wednesday. He chaired his last cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Johan

Johannesburg  - South Africa's ruling African National Congress' (ANC) was in full damage control mode Tuesday following the shock resignation of 11 cabinet ministers and three deputy ministers after President Thabo Mbeki's ousting by the party.

"We think that this is under control. There's no crisis," ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe told a hastily-convened news conference in Johannesburg, despite the mass walkout by Mbeki loyalists appearing to catch the party off guard.

Johannesburg - South Africa's ruling African National Congress' (ANC) went into damage control mode Tuesday following the shock resignation of 11 cabinet ministers over President Thabo Mbeki's ousting by the party.

"We think that this is under control. There's no crisis," ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe told a hastily-convened news conference in Johannesburg.

Mantashe said only six of the ministers had refused to return to serve under a yet-to-be-named acting president.

Johannesburg - South Africa's ruling African National Congress' (ANC) hopes for a smooth transition of power after its ousting of President Thabo Mbeki were quashed Tuesday when 11 cabinet ministers resigned in a shock move.

Finance Minister Trevor Manuel, credited with keeping the country on a steady course over a decade, was among those who quit in sympathy with Mbeki.

Three deputy ministers also resigned.

However, Manuel and his deputy, Jabu Moleketi, said they were "ready to serve" a new administration, ministerial spokeswoman Thoraya Pandy said in a statement.