I understand fully that while I serve at the pleasure of my party, the ANC, the

door through which I officially came to serve the people of South Africa is the
National Assembly, without which no political party can impose its candidate on the
electorate, no matter how popular. This Constitutional line between Party and State
is often forgotten in the usual business of party political contestations. As we
fight our own battles in the corridors of political power, and sometimes serving
the very interests of the oppressors of yesteryear, who joyfully celebrate as we
lynch one another, we often forget the citizens on whose behalf we create a better
life. We tend to place the political party above the supreme law of the country,
which is the rule book
for the country�s political engagement.
I do not make this reference because I am above reproach. Nor do I wish to
proclaim that in undertaking my political responsibilities I have been the epitome
of perfection. If truth be told, none of us are. However, I respect the prescripts
of the Constitution and its consequences on how we enter, stay in and exit
political office and Government. There has been much speculation about how the
President of the Republic should exit his or her office.
In my case, some have even dared to suggest that one�s p
erks and post-service benefits should determine how one chooses to vacate public
office. Often these concerns about perks and benefits are raised by the very same
people seeking to speak as paragons of virtue and all things constitutional. Some
even suggest that the relevant constitutional provisions, sections 89 and 102, in
terms of which the President should be removed from office, would constitute an
embarrassment or humiliation. For that reason, various suggestions are made to help
leaders avoid this constitutional route of vacating political office without perks.
If we avail ourselves to serve in terms of the Constitution, we should be prepared,
if needs be, and if those we serve deem it appropriate, to suffer the hardship that
comes with our constitutional obligations. Whether we lose our post-political
office benefits, should not determine how we act in the time of our departure. Nor
did I agree to serve because there are no better cadres in the ANC and the country.
Most importantly, I did not agree to serve in order to exit with perks and benefits
of the Office of the President. It is my Party that placed me before the
representatives of the people in the National Assembly to be elected. It is my
Party that availed me to serve on the basis of the Constitution as the supreme law
of the land. Make no mistake, No leader should stay beyond the time determined by
the people they serve. Most importantly, no leader should seek an easy way out
simply because they could not face life at the end of their term without the perks
that come with their political office. I do not fear exiting political office.
However, I have only asked my party to articulate my

transgressions and the reason for its immediate instruction that I vacate office.
This was important in view of the discussions I held with the President and
Secretary General of the Party that were aimed at uniting our organization, the
ANC. It is indeed true that there was an agreement, that even if the need arises
that I should vacate the office before the end of term, there is a need to have a
period of transition, during which I would delegate some of the functions to the
Deputy President of the Republic. 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. I fear no motion of no
confidence or impeachment, for they are the lawful mechanisms for the people of
this beautiful country to remove their President. I have served the people of South
Africa to the best of my abilities. I am forever grateful that they trusted me with
their Highest Office in the land. But when I accepted the deployment, I undertook
to subject myself to the supreme law of the land, the Constitution. Ngithanda
ukusho ukuthi kwizinkalo ngezinkalo lapho abantu bakithi bekhona, ngokuzithoba
okungenamkhawulo kusemqoka ukunazisa ukuthi angidaze nkani okweselesele. Kunjalo
nje angexwaye kwehla esikhundleni sobuMongameli waleli lengabadi. Angingenanga
emzabalazweni ngoba ngigaqele izikhundla. Yinye nje into engiyicelayo kini sizwe
sakithi, ukuthi nokho angiphume ngomgudu womthetho sisekelo okuyiwona engabekwa
ngawo. Angikwesabi ukulahlakelwa amalungelo nopoyinandi oza nesikhundla
sobuMongameli. Angingenelanga lezozinto kuhulumeni, kunjalo nje azithi shu lapha
kimi. Ngifuna kuphela ubulungiswa nokuhlonishwa komthetho sisekelo kanye
namalungelo ami. Uma kwenzeke njalo, ngiyophuma ngokuzithoba nokuhlonipha.
Ngiyakholelwa ukuthi ngiwenzile owami umsebenzi enaningibekele wona. Uma kukhona la
ngingenzanga kahle, bakwethu AKUKHO SOKA ELINGENASICI. I also thank the citizens of
South Africa for the privilege of serving as the President of the Republic since
2009. It has been an honour that I will cherish as long as I live. I wish to thank
members of Cabinet, Deputy Ministers and the whole of government, national,
provincial and local, for the positive spirit and cooperative manner in which we
all worked. I also thank the other arms of state for the work we have accomplished.
I thank all political parties who are in parliament for their contributions in
making our democracy strong. I thank all stakeholders
�business, labour, religious leaders, traditional leaders, youth, women�s
groupings, the education sector and all others we have worked with over the years,
united by the goal of moving South Africa forward. I thank the international
community for the cooperation.

I have also been disturbed by the instances of violence that have occurred because
of the different views among members of our organization outside our headquarters,
Luthuli House. No life should be lost in my name and also the ANC should never be
divided in my name. I have therefore come to the decision to resign as President of
the Republic with immediate effect. Even though I disagree with the decision of the
Leadership of my organization, I have always been a disciplined member of the ANC.
As I leave I will continue to serve the people of South Africa as well as the ANC,
the organization I have served all my life. I will dedicate all of my energy to
work towards the attainment of the policies of our organization, in particular the
Radical Economic Transformation agenda. I thank you, ngiyabonga.