South African president dismisses deputy on implications of corruption
{{date|June 14, 2005}}
{{missing image|File:JacobZuma.jpg|right|thumb|Jacob Zuma (file)}}

Today at about 1600 UTC/GMT, [[w:President of South Africa|South African President]] [[w:Thabo Mbeki|Thabo Mbeki]] announced in a special session of parliament that he has taken action he feels is necessary, that is to "release <nowiki>[his deputy president]</nowiki>, [[w:Jacob Zuma|Jacob Zuma]], from his responsibilities as deputy president of the republic and member of the cabinet".

Zuma was implicated in corruption arising from his relationship with his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, who was convicted of corruption and fraud earlier this month. Shaik was found guilty by Durban High Court of two counts of corruption and one of fraud and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

The President has called this one of his toughest decisions. Opposition leader of the Democratic Alliance immediately praised the president for holding "principle over politics", and, while deeply saddened, former president [[w:Nelson Mandela|Nelson Mandela]] supported Mbeki's decision. Jacob Zuma was the favourite of the ruling [[w:African National Congress|African National Congress]] party to succeed Thabo Mbeki as president.

Following this ordeal, the government of South Africa has reaffirmed its dedication to the reduction and eventual elimination of corruption in all areas of politics.

UPDATE (July 7)

The African National Congress held a meeting of it's National General Council over the weekend of 2-3 July. Zuma attracted a lot of favourable attention, mostly from people who wished to defeat policy initiatives that included relaxing some of the legal constraints on employers. He was reinstated as ANC deputy president and, in a first for the party, granted a salary (details not revealed). It now appears that Jacob Zuma's political future is closely tied to that of the "left wing" of the ANC.

{{haveyoursay}}
== Related news ==
*{{Wikinews|title=Mlambo-Ngcuka sworn in as South African deputy president|date=June 24, 2005}}

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4092064.stm
|title=South African leader sacks deputy
|author=
|pub=BBC News Online
|date=June 14, 2005}} 
*{{source|url=http://www.reuters.co.in/locales/c_newsArticle.jsp?type=worldNews&localeKey=en_IN&storyID=8787919
|title=South Africa's Mbeki fires deputy Zuma over graft case
|author=Gordon Bell
|pub=Reuters-India
|date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20050614071051531C805432|
author=|
title=Zuma axed|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1118760301311B253|
author=|
title=De Klerk acknowledges Mbeki's 'hard decision'|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw111875994226B255|
author=|
title=Mandela is behind Mbeki 100% on Zuma move|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1118758140727B252|
author=|
title=My conscience is clear, says Zuma|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1118766780964B216|
author=|
title=Who will replace Zuma?|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1118761561776B253|
author=|
title=Axing Zuma was good for democracy - De Lille|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1118761560590B251|
author=|
title=Freedom Front Plus supports 'brave' Mbeki|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1118759222495B255|
author=|
title=HNP: Mbeki had not choice but to fire Zuma|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1118755441141B255|
author=|
title=Opposition parties welcome axing of Zuma|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw111875598216B253|
author=|
title=Protesters rally in support of Zum|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=qw1118755440296B262|
author=|
title=Vavi 'devastated' by Mbeki's decision|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=qw1118735100727B216|
author=|
title=Mbeki's man denies Zuma report|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20050614084803331C423238|
author=|
title=Not everyone's happy with Zuma decision|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}
* {{source|
url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=6&art_id=vn20050614070913955C254769|
author=|
title=He will lose all trappings of the state|
pub=Independent|
date=June 14, 2005}}

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[[Category:Africa]]
[[Category:Crime and law]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:South Africa]]
[[Category:Thabo Mbeki]]
[[Category:Nelson Mandela]]
[[Category:African National Congress]]
[[Category:Durban]]
[[Category:Jacob Zuma]]
Today at about 1600 UTC/GMT, South African President Thabo Mbeki announced in a special session of parliament that he has taken action he feels is necessary, that is to "release , Jacob Zuma, from his responsibilities as deputy president of the republic and member of the cabinet".

Zuma was implicated in corruption arising from his relationship with his former financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, who was convicted of corruption and fraud earlier this month. Shaik was found guilty by Durban High Court of two counts of corruption and one of fraud and was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment.

The President has called this one of his toughest decisions. Opposition leader of the Democratic Alliance immediately praised the president for holding "principle over politics", and, while deeply saddened, former president Nelson Mandela supported Mbeki's decision. Jacob Zuma was the favourite of the ruling African National Congress party to succeed Thabo Mbeki as president.

Following this ordeal, the government of South Africa has reaffirmed its dedication to the reduction and eventual elimination of corruption in all areas of politics.

UPDATE (July 7)

The African National Congress held a meeting of it's National General Council over the weekend of 2-3 July. Zuma attracted a lot of favourable attention, mostly from people who wished to defeat policy initiatives that included relaxing some of the legal constraints on employers. He was reinstated as ANC deputy president and, in a first for the party, granted a salary (details not revealed). It now appears that Jacob Zuma's political future is closely tied to that of the "left wing" of the ANC.
Africa Crime and law Politics and conflicts South Africa Thabo Mbeki Nelson Mandela African National Congress Durban Jacob Zuma