Mbeki Resigns as South Africa's President

"Today [Sunday] I handed a letter to the honourable Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete to tender my resignation as President of South Africa."

Mbeki said he had been loyal, and traced some of the country's social and economic achievements during his tenure.

"We must admit that we are still faced with many challenges in this regards."

He singled out the criminal justice system to improve the fight against crime and improve moral regeneration.

After a tumultuous week which ended with Mbeki being recalled by the African National Congress, his Cabinet gathered with him ahead of his State of the Nation Address at 7.30pm.

The mood inside the meeting room was jovial and upbeat with the Cabinet ministers, government officials and high ranking ANC officials chatting and laughing.

Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota, who was booed at the ANC conference in Polokwane, joked about South Africa's poor performance at the Olympic Games, and there was brief chatter about the Soccer World Cup.

"The World Cup is not going anywhere," said Mbeki, dressed in a blue and white shirt and collar with a dark jacket, and flanked by his deputy Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, dressed in bright cerise, during the five minutes in which the media were allowed into the room.

"Following the decision of the national executive committee of the African National Congress to recall President Thabo Mbeki, the president has obliged and will step down after all constitutional requirements have been met," the presidency said.

The move could collapse the government and prompt early elections.

Mbeki has been mired in accusations that he conspired to undermine ANC leader Jacob Zuma.

The United Democratic Movement condemned the manner in which the ANC recalled Mbeki, describing it as "an act of political barbarity".

"To remove the head of state like this is an act of political barbarity that threatens to plunge the country into anarchy," Bantu Holomisa said in a statement on Saturday.

"Here is a person who has not been accused of any crime, but he is being pushed out of office by a person who faces charges of fraud and corruption."

Helen Zille, head of the Democratic Alliance, said the decision meant the ANC's internal battles had turned into a crisis for South Africa.

"ANC factionalism has long undermined government's ability to deliver, and it now threatens to destabilise the entire country."

She said the move was a clear attempt to find a "political solution" to Jacob Zuma's legal problems.

"Replacing President Mbeki with a Zuma proxy will open the way for them to ensure that he does not have to face a court of law," she said.

"If Zuma is put above the law it will do more to undermine the Constitution than anything else."

ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe said on Friday that the NEC was "not discussing Thabo Mbeki. It is discussing the Judge [Chris] Nicholson judgement in its entirety. At the end of that discussion, we will come and brief you."

Insiders in the party told the Mail & Guardian that although it is now imperative for the ANC to get rid of Mbeki, it must be done in a way that will not force the party to go the polls prematurely, as this will throw its planning into disarray.

The plan is to replace Mbeki with parliamentary Speaker and ANC chairperson Baleka Mbete, but this will not be done through a parliamentary vote of no-confidence or by impeachment.

Instead, all stops will be pulled out to get Mbeki to step down voluntarily and avoid a public battle.

Mbeki's term was due to expire in mid-2009. The decision now rests with parliament whether to appoint an interim president an call an early election, or install a full acting president to complete the second term.