ANC boots Mbeki out of the Presidency!

Thabo Mbeki was today axed as President of South Africa.

In a historic day in South African politics, he was unceremoniously ousted from office by his own party.

Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka has indicated that she will step down along with Mbeki.

"The ANC decided to recall the President of the Republic before his term of office expires," African National Congress secretary-general Gwede Mantashe told a news conference on Saturday afternoon.

"Our decision has been communicated to him... "We decided to take this decision as an effort to heal and reunite the ANC."

The impetus for this dramatic action by the party was the judgment by Judge Chris Nicholson relating to the arms deal prosecution of Jacob Zuma.

During his judgment, the judge stated that accusations of a conspiracy against Zuma were not far-fetched. The judge questioned the role of Mbeki, the justice minister the prosecuting authority in the prosecution process. (Read more about the judgment here)

"It has profound impact on the legal system. It will also have a serious impact on the affairs of the African National Congress as an organisation," Mantashe said of the judgment.

"Our movement... has been through this trying period and we are determined heal the rifts that may exist. So everything we have done is an effort to heal our movement, unite it and strengthen it."

The axing of the president by the ANC’s decision-making National Executive Commitee came on the second day of deliberations by the NEC at Esselen Park, near Kempton Park outside Johannesburg.

Mantashe said there was no vote. "We discuss until we reach a consensus. We persuade each other until we reach a consensus," he added, explaining how the NEC reached this dramatic decision.

Asked how Mbeki reacted to being told of this, Mantashe commented: "The reaction of President Mbeki to the news, in my own view, was normal - He didn’t display shock or any depression.

"He welcomed the news and agreed that he is going to participate in the process and the formalities.

"The parliamentary process is going to kick in.

"As part of that process, we are going to select the Acting President."

Explaining the process that would unfold next, Mantashe said: "The President is elected by Parliament, legally. The Parliamentary process will take over. It is out of the hands of the ANC now."

He said the ANC had discussed the issue of early elections next year, but had decided it did not need to reach a decision on that now.

Rather, it felt "let’s do one thing and settle that to ensure certainty," he added.

"This is not a punishment," Mantashe stated of the NEC’s decision to axe Mbeki. As a result, Mbeki had been invited to participate in the parliamentary process leading to the selection of the acting president, Mantashe said.

Finally, he said of Mbeki: "He remains a loyal cadre of our movement".