Anti-apartheid activist to lead South Africa

Seen as caretaker, says unity is goal

South Africa's president, Kgalema Motlanthe (center), said yesterday, ''We see before us many mountains that are yet to be climbed, and numerous rivers that still need to be crossed.'' (gianluigi guercia/AFP/Getty Images)

CAPE TOWN - A mild-mannered anti-apartheid activist yesterday became the third president of South Africa since the end of white rule, vowing to foster unity in a country shaken by a power feud between its past and future leaders.

Kgalema Motlanthe is widely seen as a caretaker president until next year's elections, when African National Congress leader Jacob Zuma is expected to take the helm.

In the meantime, Motlanthe faces an uphill struggle to restore the nation's battered international standing and regroup the government after a mass walkout in solidarity with President Thabo Mbeki, who was ousted last weekend.

"We live in challenging times. We see before us many mountains that are yet to be climbed, and numerous rivers that still need to be crossed," Motlanthe, 59, told parliament.

Zuma, 66, watched from the sidelines.

The erstwhile guerrilla leader was not eligible for the presidency because he was not a legislator.

Zuma, the ANC presidential candidate next year, is likely to win in a landslide, given the ruling party's huge majority.

This is despite him having been accused of corruption in an arms deal scandal and having stood trial on charges that he raped the HIV-positive daughter of a friend.

Zuma was acquitted of rape but could face trial on corruption charges.

Motlanthe, the ANC deputy president, said the government would continue its assault on poverty, unemployment and crime - all areas in which Mbeki is accused of failing.

"We will not allow the stability of our democratic order to be compromised," Motlanthe insisted.

Motlanthe is one of the few figures in the ANC leadership to have weathered the past year's vicious political battle with friends in the camps of both Zuma and Mbeki, though he has remained loyal to Zuma.