JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, Sept. 21 (UPI) -- South African President Thabo Mbeki officially delivered his resignation to the parliamentary speaker Sunday, ending his term in office.
The Times in Johannesburg, South Africa, reported Mbeki's resignation followed the African National Congress national executive committee's decision to oust him.
Mbiki had drawn criticism for not joining the ANC's fight against corruption charges against ANC President Jacob Zuma.
"Today I handed a letter to the speaker of the speaker of the national assembly, the Honorable Baleka Mbete, to tender my resignation," Mbeki said in a nationally televised address.
Mbeki also used his resignation to defend his presidency.
"We, as government, embarked from 1994 on policies and programs aimed at pulling the people of South Africa out of the morass of poverty. We transformed our economy resulting in the longest period of sustained economic growth in our country. I would be the first to say that even as we ensured consistent economic growth, the fruits of this growth are not shared among all the people."
