Radebe appointed acting president

Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Jeff Radebe will serve as acting president from Thursday, the presidency said.

It said both President Jacob Zuma and his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe were out of the country.

Zuma was visiting Angola and Motlanthe was in Zimbabwe to attend the inauguration of that country's re-elected president Robert Mugabe.

Motlanthe was scheduled to return on Friday, and Zuma was expected back on Saturday.