Jacob Zuma

==== Resignation ====
Once Ramaphosa replaced Zuma as ANC president, there was growing pressure for the latter to resign from the national presidency. On 6 February 2018, Zuma's annual State of the Nation Address, scheduled for 8 February, was postponed indefinitely "to create room for establishing a much more conducive political atmosphere".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Marrian|first1=Natasha|last2=Magubane|first2=Khulekani|date=6 February 2018|title=State of nation address postponed|work=Business Day|url=https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2018-02-06-state-of-nation-address-postponed/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073305/https://www.businesslive.co.za/bd/national/2018-02-06-state-of-nation-address-postponed/|archive-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> The following week, Ramaphosa and Zuma spent almost five days in talks. On 12 December, when it became clear that the negotiations had failed, the ANC [[National Executive Committee of the African National Congress|National Executive Committee]] convened an emergency meeting near Pretoria, and, after nearly ten hours of debate, decided that Zuma should be "recalled" by the party if he did not resign voluntarily. Ramaphosa and another senior official reportedly drove to Zuma's home just after midnight to deliver the ultimatum, but Zuma refused, insisting on a three-month notice period or transition period before leaving office.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=2018-02-13|title=Jacob Zuma defies order from South Africa's ANC to resign|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/12/reports-that-south-africa-president-jacob-zuma-has-resigned-dismissed-by-anc|access-date=2022-01-14|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> On 13 December, the National Executive Committee publicly announced its intention to recall Zuma.<ref>{{cite web|last1=De Klerk|first1=Aphiwe|last2=Macanda|first2=Siphe|date=13 February 2018|title=ANC confirms it has recalled Jacob Zuma|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2018-02-13-anc-confirms-it-has-recalled-jacob-zuma/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180213200128/https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2018-02-13-anc-confirms-it-has-recalled-jacob-zuma/|archive-date=13 February 2018|work=Sunday Times}}</ref> As a party-political body, it formally lacked the authority to remove sitting presidents, though it could instruct the ANC caucus, which controlled Parliament, to remove Zuma through a motion of no confidence if he did not resign at its request.<ref name="Merten-2018">{{Cite web|last=Merten|first=Marianne|date=2018-02-14|title=President's End: While Zuma did resign, Parliament had a plan anyway|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-02-15-presidents-end-while-zuma-did-resign-parliament-had-a-plan-anyway/|access-date=2022-01-14|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}}</ref>[[File:South African President Jacob Zuma in Isfahan 03.jpg|thumb|Zuma and his third wife, Thobeka Madiba-Zuma, during a state visit to the Iranian city of [[Isfahan]] in 2016]]

At dawn on 14 February, there was a police raid at the Johannesburg home of the Gupta family, which the [[Hawks (South Africa)|Hawks]] said was related to an investigation into state capture.<ref name="Burke-2018">{{Cite web|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=2018-02-14|title=Effort to oust Jacob Zuma turns to option of no-confidence vote|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/14/gupta-family-south-african-police-raid-zuma-anc|access-date=2022-01-14|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> [[Baleka Mbete]], the [[Speaker of the National Assembly of South Africa|Speaker of the National Assembly]], announced that the EFF's motion of no confidence in Zuma had been moved forward in the parliamentary schedule, and that it would now be voted on the following day instead of on 22 February.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-02-14|title=Speaker Baleka Mbete reschedules motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma|url=https://www.gov.za/speeches/speaker-baleka-mbete-reschedules-motion-no-confidence-president-jacob-zuma-14-feb-2018-0000|access-date=2022-01-14|website=South African Government}}</ref> She told journalists that "the recall, most definitely official, is now being implemented by this institution [Parliament]".<ref name="Merten-2018" /> The ANC announced that it planned to support the opposition's motion, which would ensure its passage.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Burke|first=Jason|date=2018-02-14|title=Jacob Zuma resigns as South Africa's president on eve of no-confidence vote|url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/feb/14/jacob-zuma-resigns-south-africa-president|access-date=2022-01-14|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> Shortly afterwards, Zuma gave a long live television interview on SABC on 14 February 2018, arguing that he had done nothing wrong and had not been given reasons for his recall.<ref name="Merten-2018" /><ref name="Burke-2018" /> He said that he disagreed with the ANC's decision and was being "victimised".<ref name="Davis-2018">{{Cite web|last=Davis|first=Rebecca|date=2018-02-14|title=Jacob Zuma digs in his heels: 'I'm being victimised here'|url=https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2018-02-14-jacob-zuma-digs-in-his-heels-im-being-victimised-here/|access-date=2022-01-14|website=Daily Maverick|language=en}}</ref> He also said that if he was dismissed, the ANC could be "plunged in a crisis that I'm sure my comrade leaders will regret".<ref name="Davis-2018" /> According to a later report by ''[[City Press (South Africa)|City Press]]'', during this period elements of the [[South African National Defence Force]] and [[State Security Agency (South Africa)|State Security Agency]] were unsuccessfully lobbied to [[Coup d'état|launch a revolt]] to prevent Zuma's removal.<ref name="news24CityPressCyrilDodgedCoup2">{{Cite news|date=2018-07-22|title=How Ramaphosa 'dodged a coup' – security bosses reveal all|language=en|work=News24|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/security-bosses-reveal-how-cyril-dodged-a-coup-20180722-2|access-date=8 November 2018}}</ref>

On the same day, in a live televised address just before 11 p.m., Zuma announced his immediate resignation.<ref name="Merten-2018"/><ref>{{cite news|date=14 February 2018|title=Time's up: Jacob Zuma has resigned|work=[[Mail & Guardian]]|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2018-02-14-zuma-address|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214210738/https://mg.co.za/article/2018-02-14-zuma-address|archive-date=14 February 2018}}</ref> In his speech, he said that he accepted the ANC's decision but had asked its leadership to "articulate my transgressions and the reason for its immediate instruction that I vacate office". He claimed that he had earlier had an agreement with the party that if he resigned it would be after "a period of transition".<ref name="Sunday Times-2018">{{Cite web|date=2018-02-15|title='I do not fear exiting political office': Zuma's resignation speech|url=https://www.timeslive.co.za/politics/2018-02-15-in-full--zumas-resignation-speech/|access-date=2022-01-14|website=Sunday Times|language=en-ZA}}</ref> He said:<blockquote>Make no mistake, no leader should stay beyond the time determined by the people they serve... 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 organisation, 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 organisation I have served all my life. I will dedicate all of my energy to work towards the attainment of the policies of our organisation, in particular the radical economic transformation agenda.<ref name="Sunday Times-2018" /></blockquote>