PRESIDENT ZUMA, UNDER CLOUD, RESIGNS IN TELEVISED ADDRESS

South African President Jacob Zuma resigned on Wednesday in a televised address to the nation, avoiding his almost certain ouster in a parliamentary vote after years of corruption scandals.

Zuma’s resignation came after the ruling African National Congress party instructed him to leave office by the end of Wednesday or face the motion of no confidence in parliament. His departure ended a leadership crisis in one of Africa’s biggest economies and set the stage for ruling party lawmakers to elect acting president Cyril Ramaphosa, previously deputy president, as Zuma’s successor.

“I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect,” said Zuma, who added that he took the decision even though he disagreed with the ruling party’s demand that he quit. Zuma, 75, had said he was willing to resign but wanted to stay in office for several more months.

“Of course, I must accept that if my party and my compatriots wish that I be removed from office, they must exercise that right and do so in the manner prescribed by the constitution,” Zuma said.

The former president was defiant in an interview earlier Wednesday.

“I’m being victimized here,” Zuma told state broadcaster SABC.