Corruption is Everywhere - in S Africa it fell the President
Ramaphosa elected as new President
By Susan McFarland and Daniel Uria
South African President Jacob Zuma resigned from office Wednesday amid pressure from
the African National Congress. Photo by Monika Graff/UPI | License Photo
UPI -- South African President Jacob Zuma resigned from office Wednesday following pressure from the African National Congress.
Zuma, 75, announced his resignation in a televised address, saying while he disagrees with the ANC's decision he has always been a dedicated member.
"I fear no motion of no confidence or impeachment ... I will continue to serve the people of South Africa and the ANC. I will dedicate my life to continuing to work for the execution of the policies of our organization," he said.
"No life should be lost in my name. The ANC should never been divided in my name. I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect."
The ANC ordered Zuma to leave office by the end of Tuesday -- or risk being removed by force.
Zuma, the subject of several "no-confidence" votes in recent years, has resisted pressure to resign and remained president amid repeated corruption allegations. Under South Africa's national constitution, Zuma could not be forced out of office.
The ANC said if Zuma did not resign by the end of Wednesday, proceedings would begin to legally force him out.
During a television interview Wednesday, Zuma said he asked top officials to clarify his wrongdoing, but said, "Nobody has ever been able to tell me what the issue is."
"It's not a new matter. I need to be furnished with what is it that I have done and unfortunately nobody has been able to tell me," he said. "There are processes in the ANC that need to be followed if I have been doing something wrong."
Zuma, South Africa's president since 2009, faces nearly 800 corruption allegations stemming from an arms deal during the 1990s. In 2016, he was ordered by South Africa's top court to repay part of $15 million in public funds it said he misappropriated to upgrade his private home.
Zuma said he was not defying ANC leadership, but disagreeing with its decision to recall him.
"I have never defied the leadership. I said here I do not agree ... because there is no evidence," Zuma said. "I did not defy. I disagreed with the decision because I feel the decision is not right."
Zuma was president of the ANC between 2007 and 2017.
Ramaphosa elected as South Africa's new president
By Susan McFarland
South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa (C) will be nominated Thursday to succeed Jacob Zuma as president of South Africa. Zuma resigned Wednesday. File Photo by Kim Ludbrook/EPA-EFE
UPI -- Cyril Ramaphosa was elected as South Africa's new president Thursday after the departure of embattled leader Jacob Zuma.
The announcement of Ramaphosa, the only candidate nominated in South African Parliament Thursday, was met with singing in the National Assembly.
In December, Ramaphosa was elected leader of the African National Congress. Zuma resigned Wednesday following pressure from the ANC, which said if Zuma didn't resign by the end of the day, proceedings would begin to force him out.
Ramaphosa, 65, drew international acclaim for steering talks that ended apartheid, a system of institutionalized racial segregation, and produced South Africa's first democratic constitution. He has served as country's deputy president since 2014.
The new leader, one of South Africa's richest businessmen, was also chairman of the committee that prepared former President Nelson Mandela for release from prison in 1990.
As deputy president, Ramaphosa will assume the role of acting president when Zuma steps down. He said his priority is to revive the country's economy, which will be a tough task with South African unemployment at about 30 percent, and nearly 40 percent for young people.
Addressing government corruption is a step that could improve investor confidence and spark more jobs.
On Wednesday, eight members of the powerful and wealthy Gupta family were arrested and accused of fraud and money laundering. The Guptas have been accused of using their friendship with Zuma to gain political influence.
South Africa has 3 Capitol cities: Pretoria, Bloemfontein, and Cape Town. - It's a long story!
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