Zuma finally resigns
South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma has finally yielded to pressure and resigned from his position.
In a press briefing Wednesday evening, Zuma announced; “I have therefore come to the decision to resign as the president of the Republic.”
Zuma, whose reputation has been stained by years-long allegations of graft, has been instructed to step down by the African National Congress (ANC) party, an order he dismissed.
The 75 year-old stressed that he was not defying the ANC but he disagreed with its decision to ask him to resign.
"It was very unfair to me that this issue is raised," he said. "Nobody has ever provided the reasons. Nobody is saying what I have done."
He said he had offered to go after June, but objected to the way the issue was currently being handled.
However, Zuma now says he has never refused to vacate his position as President.
President Zuma: I have therefore come to the decision to resign as the president of the Republic #ZumaPresser
— SA Gov News (@SAgovnews) February 14, 2018
“I have served the people of SA with the best of my abilities. To all the people of South Africa, I never refused to vacate my position. All I want is justice and the respect of the law and my rights. If that happens I will leave with honor,” Zuma said.
“I wish to thank members of Cabinet, Deputy Ministers and the whole of government for the positive manner in which we all worked,” he added before announcing his resignation.
