Mr Mbeki called it quits after a decision at weekend by party central committee to recall him, in a decision that has set clear divisions among party elites and rank and file.
Mr Motlanthe, who deputises, populist and scandal swamped ruling party leader, Mr Jacob Zuma, will remain in office of presidency until elections are held, which are expected to be held before July next year.
Mr Mbeki accepted defeat yesterday in a moving last state address, in which he vowed to remain a loyal servant and member of ruling ANC. He said he took his recall as part of democracy, having completed many of his mandated assignments.
Mr Mbeki, who showed composure and true statesmanship in his address called on all to focus, however categorically denying any wrong-doing or any of the alleged meddling with national prosecution authority.
As Mr Mbeki showed a brave face to his somehow embarrassing exit, political observers in South Africa have said ruling ANC could yet be embarrassed as its decision backfires.
A number of cabinet members loyal to Mr Mbeki, including deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Nqcuka were expected to also resign in solidarity to their belittled leader.
ANC’s Matthews Phosa, was reported in SA media as having said ruling party wanted current cabinet to stay in place, and retain stability that ANC so much needs towards next year’s election. “No we want them to stay. We are very happy if they stay and we do these things together. We really want stability and we want them to stay,” he was quoted.
Mr Phosa was further reported to have said that call for Mr Mbeki to resign was not an act of retribution, but a bid to unite the party behind one leader ahead of polls next year.
Mr Mbeki, 66, succeeded Mr Nelson Mandela as president in June 1999, is South Africa’s first democratically-elected president to be forced out of office before end of his term.
His crime, has been attribution to his personal and presidential role played in charges brought against party leader, Jacob Zuma, who is most favoured to win presidential elections next while still surrounded in a swamp of corruption charges, mainly related to South Africa’s biggest post apartheid arms deal saga.
Under South African constitution, president is appointed by parliament, which has been dominated by ANC since end of apartheid and introduction of multi party democracy which included majority blacks of the country in May 1994.
Mr Mbeki’s term was due to expire in mid-2009, though his stay was already seen to be holding by mere weak strings since losing leadership of his party to Mr Zuma at ANC conference in December last year.
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