No word yet on Mbeki's fate

The fate of President Thabo Mbeki was still not known by Friday evening as the African National Congress's national executive committee (NEC) was still continuing its deliberations in Kempton Park on the East Read.

The NEC was meeting to discuss whether to remove Mbeki, who is mired in accusations that he conspired to undermine ANC leader Jacob Zuma.Tension had been mounting all day as the NEC delayed a media announcement on the matter, which had been expected by 5.30pm.By 7.30pm, ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe briefly addressed the media gathered outside the conference centre and said: "We are not finished. We are in the middle of the debate."When journalists pressed him on any news of the Mbeki matter, he retorted: "You want me to speculate?"ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte said that an announcement would only be made by Saturday morning.Mantashe also said the NEC was "not discussing Thabo Mbeki. It is discussing the Judge [Chris] Nicholson judgement in its entirety. At the end of that discussion, we will come and brief you."