The Presidency has noted The Times newspaper article in today's edition of the paper headlined: "Mbeki washes hands of premier sackings."

The newspaper's assertion that President Thabo Mbeki "repudiated" the ANC over its decision to relieve the Premiers of the Eastern and Western Cape Provinces of their duties during yesterday's post-Cabinet Lekgotla media briefing is not only wrong but downright mischievous in flagrant disregard for fact. It is bad journalism!

Ironically, the paper quotes President Mbeki's response to a question about the reasons for relieving the two premiers. The response does not remotely suggest "repudiation" of the ANC or any other party.

President Mbeki said:

"With regard to the questions as to why these changes were made, you will have to go and ask the ANC about that. Those are not decisions that were taken by the executive in government because it is the ANC that deploys those people."

The Times will be at pains to logically explain how this response by President Mbeki constitutes, in anyway, repudiation of the ANC. The reality is that the authors of the article were so resolved to arrive at a predetermined conclusion that they would not let the facts stand in their way.

In the interest of informed public discourse, The Presidency would like to reiterate that candidates for Provincial Premiership are nominated by the ANC and not the President of the Republic. Indeed, the current crop of premiers was nominated by President Mbeki in consultation with the NEC of the ANC in his capacity as party President.

The Times also quotes President Mbeki as reporting an "overall assessment" of "major strides in improving the lives of millions of South Africans." The Times will know, from the Development Indicators published last week by The Presidency, that this is indeed so, and know equally well that an "overall" assessment is one that accommodates both strengths and weaknesses in performance and in no way remotely contrasts with anybody's identification of particular weaknesses in service delivery with regard to any department or sphere.

It is not too much to expect a newspaper, which is supposed to be in the business of communicating factual and truthful information to know these basic facts. It is similarly not too much to expect journalists to listen and to present information within proportion.

The Times newspaper fails on both counts. Above all, it fails its readers by descending into the mischief that is bad journalism.

Statement issued by The Presidency, Union Buildings, Tshwane July 28 2008