Jacob Zuma has resigned as the President of the Republic of South Africa.
He made the much-anticipated announcement late Wednesday night, about an hour before the deadline set for him to do so by the ANC expired.
In a speech lasting around 30 minutes, Zuma thanked the people of South Africa for entrusting him with the top job.
He also thanked his former cabinet colleagues, deputy ministers and as well as provincial and local governments.
Zuma also said that he was not in the job for the perks and benefits which he said should not determine how one vacates political office.
“I address you after weeks of speculation about my future as the President of South Africa. It is now public knowledge that the NEC of ANC had resolved to recall me as the President of the Republic,” he said.
In its reaction, the ANC said Zuma’s decision was consistent with what the ANC had said that he would not defy the organization.
ANC deputy secretary-general Jesse Duarte, said that Zuma remains a principled member of the ANC. “In giving effect to the decision of the ANC NEC to recall him, President Zuma has reaffirmed his commitment to the principles, practices and character of the movement to which he has dedicated his life,” Duarte said.
She said the ANC wants to salute the contribution he has made.
"The ANC extends its gratitude to President Zuma for having served the country in this capacity for the last nine years, particularly for the contribution he has made to progress in improving the lives of ordinary South Africans," Duarte said.
"While we accept the resignation of President Zuma, we reiterate that our decision to impose a recall was taken only after exhaustive discussions on the impact such a recall would have on the country, the ANC and the functioning of government".
"This decision provides certainty to the people of South Africa at a time when the economic and social challenges facing the country require an urgent and resolute response by all sections of society.
"The ANC now expects all our deployed members of parliament to cast their vote for the ANC President, Comrade Cyril Ramaphosa, as the candidate the ANC will nominate for President when Parliament convenes to elect a President of the Republic," Duarte said."
"It is critical that South Africans are now united around the task of growth, job creation and economic transformation," she said.
DA leader, Mmusi Maimane, in his reaction, said that "we rejoice with all South Africans today as the long, painful decade of Zuma’s presidency finally comes to an end".
"Jacob Zuma did untold harm to our country. More people are unemployed than ever before, and more people live in poverty than when he came into office," he said in a statement
"On his watch, corruption has been allowed to flourish to the point of nearly destroying our country and completely capturing the state and the prosecution system. That will forever be his shameful legacy".
"Even in his resignation speech tonight, he refused to take any responsibility for his actions, and for the harm, he caused the country. Such shameless disdain requires a level of pathology that reveals Jacob Zuma’s true nature," Maimane said.
