‘L

et me reiterate that my conscience is clear.” This was Jacob Zuma responding to his dismissal as deputy president in June 2005. Zuma made that statement in the same room at Tuynhuys in which Cyril Ramaphosa was sworn in as South Africa’s fifth president on Thursday.

Like he did when he resigned on Wednesday night, Zuma was light-hearted with the reporters gathered, even though he was seething with anger.

In 2005 he was able to control his emotions and also took the advice of his aides on how to respond to his axing. He said he understood it was then president Thabo Mbeki’s prerogative to relieve him of his duties.

“I accept and respect his pronouncement. I believe he has taken this decision not because he believes I am guilty of any crime but because of considerations relating to the constraints within which government operates.”

Zuma has made history during his lifetime, including being the only person to serve in four of the ANC’s top six positions — deputy secretary-general, national chairman, deputy president and president.

This week he became the only person to unceremoniously leave the Presidency twice — first as deputy president and now as president.

While both his exits were immersed in scandal, the circumstances under which Zuma resigned on Wednesday were different.

He was like a wounded animal, snarling and menacing as he retreated.

His resignation statement was perplexing and incoherent, even petty in parts. Future generations will probably be befuddled as to