Thabo Mbeki

President of South Africa from 1999 to 2008 · South Africa · Politicians · Born 1942 · age 84

Thabo Mbeki is read about 697 times a day, in 96 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 390 days, one point a day.

Something wrong?

Compare Claim

He spent nearly thirty years in exile, returned to help dismantle apartheid through negotiation, then presided over South Africa's economic stabilisation - and left office under a cloud of AIDS denialism and a party recall that ended his presidency nine months early.

A life in dates

2011“By all means, let's work together.”In their words26 August 2011, University of Stellenbosch .Read the whole statement

2006“Despite the advances we have made in our 12 years of freedom, we must also recognise the reality that we still have a long way to go...”In their words29 July 2006The Fourth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture Address, Johannesburg, South Africa (29 July 2006)Read the whole statement

2005Champions of the EarthAward2003Order of ExcellenceAward2002Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicAward2000“Aids is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. I don't believe it's a sensible thing to ask: 'Does a virus cause a syndrome?' It can't. A virus will cause a disease.”In their wordsAugust 2000August 2000, addressing South African Parliament [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jun/12/aids.chrismcgreal.Read the whole statement

Honorary Doctorate from the University of Nice-Sophia AntipolisAward1998Honorary Doctor of the Peoples' Friendship University of RussiaAward1996“In my veins courses the blood of the Malay slaves who came from the East. Their proud dignity informs my bearing, their culture a part of my essence.”In their words8 May 1996speech at the adoption of the The Republic of South Africa Constitution Bill, 8 May 1996, Cape TownRead the whole statement

1942Born18 June 1942

Also in Deutsch

Photos 12

Lovedale, where Mbeki attended high school, in the 1900s.

Govan Mbeki during the raid on Liliesleaf Farm, July 1963.

Mbeki's brother Moeletsi in Amsterdam in 1978, accepting an award on behalf of their father. The banner calls for Govan's release.

Mbeki speaks to District Six land claimants in Cape Town, 2001.

Mbeki with American President George W. Bush at the White House, June 2001.

Mbeki with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien and the Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad in June 2003.

Mbeki with Brazilian President Lula da Silva and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh at the second IBSA summit in Pretoria, October 2007.

In their own words 5

Thabo Mbeki

5 statements, newest first

By all means, let's work together.
Aug 26, 2011, 26 August 2011, University of Stellenbosch ., Own words
Despite the advances we have made in our 12 years of freedom, we must also recognise the reality that we still have a long way to go...
Jul 29, 2006, The Fourth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture Address, Johannesburg, South Africa (29 July 2006), Own words
Aids is Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. I don't believe it's a sensible thing to ask: 'Does a virus cause a syndrome?' It can't. A virus will cause a disease.
Aug 2000, August 2000, addressing South African Parliament [http://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jun/12/aids.chrismcgreal., Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Champions of the Earth2005

Order of Excellence2003

Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic2002

Honorary Doctorate from the University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis2000

Honorary Doctor of the Peoples' Friendship University of Russia1998

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George

Order of the Eagle of Zambia

Honorary Doctorate of the University of Glasgow

Honorary Doctor of the University of Johannesburg

Honorary Doctor of the University of Sussex

Order of Good Hope

Order of the Bath

Order of Saint Michael and Saint George

Order of Saint John

Order of Merit of the Italian Republic

Order of José Martí

Family

Parents

Thabo Mbeki

Partners

Spouse Zanele Dlamini Mbeki

Brothers and sisters

Is this everyone?

Only relatives with a profile here are drawn, so a family can be larger than this. A line here can also be wrong.

Correct this family

About this person

Born in the Transkei in 1942, son of an ANC intellectual, Mbeki joined the Youth League at fourteen and left for England at twenty, beginning an exile that lasted until 1990. He rose as Oliver Tambo's protégé in the ANC's information wing and as a seasoned diplomat across African outposts, leading the talks that would end apartheid. Appointed deputy president after the 1994 elections, he became Mandela's evident successor, winning the ANC presidency unopposed in 1997 and the national presidency in 1999. His tenure brought falling debt, steady growth, and an outsize African role - he architected the New Partnership for Africa's Development and chaired the AU's launch - but alienated the left with market-friendly policies and drew global condemnation for delaying HIV treatment programmes until court orders and 2003, moves estimated to have cost hundreds of thousands of lives. After losing the ANC presidency to Jacob Zuma at Polokwane in December 2007, the party recalled him in September 2008, forcing his resignation nine months before his term ended.

Country

South Africa

Politicians from South Africa 6

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela61.8

Steve Biko61.7

Fame.am measures public visibility signals. It does not measure human value, talent, morality, or credibility.