Former president Thabo Mbeki on Wednesday told Eyewitness News he was proud of the way the country handled the events of the past 12 months.

Mbeki was recalled by the African National Congress just over a year ago and Kgalema Motlanthe was installed as caretaker president.

In one of his first domestic interviews since handing over power, he said South Africa was on the right path.

He was gracious in giving an interview but would not go into specifics about domestic politics.

"I think one of the principal things that we must be proud of as South Africans is the wisdom and maturity with which we handled whatever challenges we faced," said Mbeki.

He gave a lecture at Wits about young leaders saying younger South Africans were becoming more inquisitive.

"It even comes from young children, eight-year-olds and ten-year-olds, they are already posing questions. I think it is very good this level of consciousness among young children," said Mbeki.

Mbeki did not seem to have changed much, thinking carefully before answering and not giving much away.

Eyewitness News

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