Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma remain the symbols of division in our country.

Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma remain the symbols of division in our country.

And both don't seem to have the best interests of the country at heart. Mbeki has bowed out, grudgingly though, and Zuma should suit.

Those who know will tell you that a week is a long time in politics. Will Kgalema Motlanthe last for six months as caretaker president? He should, and he must.

What is Motlanthe going to achieve in six months? Nothing, I suppose.

The caretaker president's role will only make the ANC deputy president's CV look good, and he knows it.

It is an open secret that Motlanthe doesn't enjoy the full support and confidence of all in the Zuma camp.

So during his tenure, he will be under the close scrutiny of those who suspect him of having presidential ambitions.

There is another challenge facing Motlanthe: the Zuma camp is divided.

How is he going to unite this divided camp? And it appears the division will only grow stronger as time goes by.

I advise the new president to tread carefully and heal the rifts of the party.

I also advise him to bring back the confidence the masses once had in the ANC.

I have no doubt that he is capable of doing just that.

Thabile Mange

Johannesburg