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South Africa's President Jacob Zuma resigns | South Africa's President Jacob Zuma resigns |
(35 minutes later) | |
South Africa's embattled President Jacob Zuma has resigned from his office with immediate effect. | |
He made the announcement in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening. | He made the announcement in a televised address to the nation on Wednesday evening. |
Earlier, Mr Zuma's governing ANC party told him to step down or face a vote of no confidence in parliament. | |
The 75-year-old has been under increasing pressure to give way to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC's new leader. | The 75-year-old has been under increasing pressure to give way to Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, the ANC's new leader. |
Mr Zuma, who has been in power since 2009, faces numerous allegations of corruption. | Mr Zuma, who has been in power since 2009, faces numerous allegations of corruption. |
His resignation came at the end of a long speech in which he said he disagreed with the way the ANC had acted towards him. | His resignation came at the end of a long speech in which he said he disagreed with the way the ANC had acted towards him. |
He said he did not fear a motion of no-confidence, adding: "I have served the people of South Africa to the best of my ability." | He said he did not fear a motion of no-confidence, adding: "I have served the people of South Africa to the best of my ability." |
'Disciplined ANC member' | 'Disciplined ANC member' |
Mr Zuma also said that violence and division within the ANC had influenced his decision to step down. | Mr Zuma also said that violence and division within the ANC had influenced his decision to step down. |
"No life should be lost in my name and also the ANC should never be divided in my name. I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect," he said. | "No life should be lost in my name and also the ANC should never be divided in my name. I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect," he said. |
"Even though I disagree with the decision of the leadership of my organisation, I have always been a disciplined member of the ANC. | "Even though I disagree with the decision of the leadership of my organisation, I have always been a disciplined member of the ANC. |
"As I leave I will continue to serve the people of South Africa as well as the ANC, the organisation I have served... all of my life." | "As I leave I will continue to serve the people of South Africa as well as the ANC, the organisation I have served... all of my life." |
The ANC issued a statement saying Mr Zuma's resignation provided "certainty to the people of South Africa". | The ANC issued a statement saying Mr Zuma's resignation provided "certainty to the people of South Africa". |
Deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte told reporters: "President Zuma remains a principled member of the ANC. The ANC wants to salute the outstanding contribution he has made." | |
Mr Zuma, a former member of the ANC's military wing in the days of apartheid, rose through the ranks of the party to become president. He led the country for more than a third of its time after apartheid. | Mr Zuma, a former member of the ANC's military wing in the days of apartheid, rose through the ranks of the party to become president. He led the country for more than a third of its time after apartheid. |
But he leaves office with several scandals hanging over him, and with South Africa's economy in dire straits. | But he leaves office with several scandals hanging over him, and with South Africa's economy in dire straits. |
What led up to Zuma's resignation? | |
A meeting of the ANC's National Executive Committee had announced its decision to recall Mr Zuma on Tuesday and gave him until the end of Wednesday to resign. | |
ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu then announced a motion of no-confidence would be heard on Thursday, with Mr Ramaphosa sworn in as president as soon as possible after that. | |
Mr Zuma's resignation capped a day of fast-moving events. | |
It began with early morning police raids and arrests at the Johannesburg home of his close associates, the wealthy, Indian-born Gupta family. | |
The Guptas have been accused of using their close friendship with the president to wield enormous political influence. Both parties deny all allegations of wrongdoing. | |
Mr Zuma made no reference to the raid when he held a lengthy, unannounced, interview with national broadcaster SABC hours later. | |
But he said he had done nothing wrong and saw no reason to stand down. |