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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. | 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. | 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. |
Earlier on Wednesday, police swooped on the Johannesburg home of the powerful and wealthy Gupta family with whom Mr Zuma has close ties. | |
'Disciplined ANC member' | 'Disciplined ANC member' |
He began his resignation speech by laughing and joking with members of the press, asking them why they looked so serious. | |
After paying tribute to those whom he had worked with over the years, Mr Zuma 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." |
Zuma era ends but democracy is intact | |
Analysis: Andrew Harding, BBC News, Johannesburg | |
It was a weary Jacob Zuma who appeared before the cameras to say goodbye. | |
He admitted that he'd made mistakes - that he wasn't perfect - adding, none of us are. A grumbling defiance flickered through much of his speech. | |
Mr Zuma said all he had asked of his beloved party was a few more months to hand over power, and for someone to explain what he'd done wrong. | |
As for the threat of impeachment, or a vote of no confidence - he said those didn't scare him. | |
Mr Zuma seemed oddly preoccupied and offended by the suggestion that he might be worried about losing the perks of the job. Not true. | |
Finally, he announced he was resigning with immediate effect - even, he couldn't help adding, if he still disagreed with the ANC's decision. | |
And so, the Zuma era ends. South Africa's young, but robust democracy, still intact. | |
The ANC (African National Congress) 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." | 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? | 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. | 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 parliamentary motion of no-confidence for 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | But he said he had done nothing wrong and saw no reason to stand down. |
Jacob Zuma's life in seven key dates | |
What happens next? | |
As deputy president, as well as ANC leader, Mr Ramaphosa is likely to step in. | |
But it is thought that he would not seek to remain as president, preferring to get his own mandate at next year's presidential elections. | |
The ANC, as the party in government, would then nominate a candidate to serve until then, and parliament would take a vote within 30 days. | |
Mr Ramaphosa was already the overwhelming favourite to win the 2019 election, one which Mr Zuma was barred from competing in, having served two terms. |