South Africa: Mining giant rows with Mbeki

South Africa's largest mining company, Anglo American, is seeking to defuse a row after remarks by its chief executive angered President Thabo Mbeki. Tony Trahar said last week that the political risk of investing in South Africa is diminishing, but not gone. President Mbeki reacted accusing the company of paying black workers badly during apartheid and of withholding investment in South Africa. This row has its roots in the political path adopted by the African National Congress after it came to power 10 years ago. It abandoned much of its socialist rhetoric and embraced business friendly, market orientated policies.