Mbeki's consistency questioned over Manto debacle

Political analyst, Sipho Seepe, says President Thabo Mbeki should show consistency in dealing with allegations that come up against top office bearers. He was commenting on the President's reactions to the allegations of alcoholism and theft facing health minister, Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. Opposition parties have called on the president to fire the minister, but he has refused, saying he needs evidence. Seepe says in the past, the President has established commissions to get to the bottom of the truth when serious allegations were made against officials.

Seepe alluded to the Hefer commission, which looked at allegations into whether or not former National Prosecuting Authority chief, Bulelani Ngcuka, had been an apartheid spy.Presidency denies all allegationsMeanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has asked the Public Protector to investigate allegations that Mbeki used his influence to ensure the approval of a liver transplant for Tshabalala-Msimang. The Presidency has categorically denied all allegations against the President. Presidency spokesperson, Mukoni Ratshitanga, says the DA has a tendency to issue statements without verifying facts with the Presidency. "The DA statements were issued to tarnish the reputation of the Presidency," says Ratshitanga.