South Africa

President Jacob Zuma resigns with immediate effect

Zuma becomes the second head of state to resign after being recalled by the ANC.

Ray Mahlaka  /  14 February 2018 23:11

President Jacob Zuma leaves Tuynhuys, the office of the Presidency at Parliament in Cape Town, South Africa, February 7, 2018. REUTERS/Sumaya Hisham

President Jacob Zuma has resigned with immediate effect after being recalled by the ANC National Executive Committee on Tuesday.
Zuma becomes the second head of state to resign after being recalled by the ANC since 1994. His predecessor, Thabo Mbeki, also resigned as president in 2008 after his defeat at the 52nd ANC National Conference in Polokwane on December 2007. Mbeki was also recalled by the ANC’s top leadership structure.
Zuma said the ANC should not be divided in his name, which influenced his decision to resign as president.
Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to be appointed as acting president of South Africa – an appointment to be affirmed by Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng. The appointment of a deputy president to replace Ramaphosa is yet to be announced.
Zuma resigned in a television address on Wednesday evening at 10.34pm  – an hour before his deadline to do so – after the ANC indicated that it would initiate a motion of no confidence against him in Parliament on Thursday. “I have come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect even though I disagree with the decision of the leadership of my organisation. I have always been a disciplined member of the organisation,” he said.
Zuma’s resignation ends his more than eight years in power and a tenure rocked by a slew of corruption scandals and his survival of more than five motion of confidences levelled against him by opposition parties.

 

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