South Africa’s finance minister resigned along with most leading Cabinet members today in the wake of president Thabo Mbeki’s departure.

On paper – and it’s a paper he has yet to sign or even publicly admit exists - Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe appears to be acknowledging at last that he cannot rule the African country alone.

Fires that have swept through parts of South Africa in recent days have killed at least 18 people and damaged power lines, crops, forests and grazing areas.