The swearing in of South Africa's new president will be conducted on Thursday this week, the same day as his election by the National Assembly, Speaker Baleka Mbete said on Monday.

The ceremony could take place at Tuynhuys. "The Chief Justice [Pius Langa] has indicated his availability to
conduct the election on September 25, and senior officials from Parliament will be briefing him in the course of today on the technical details," she said in a statement.

The statement was aimed at spelling out the parliamentary process to deal with Mbeki's resignation.

"It is desirable that the swearing-in of the new president be conducted on the same day as his election. This could be done in Cape Town at Tuynhuys. Parliament is in contact with the presidency regarding this matter."

It was also desirable that the new president announce the Cabinet as soon as possible, even if this meant confirming the existing Cabinet.

On the post of deputy president, the statement read that "in the event that the deputy president... is not available to serve in that post any longer, that issue would be addressed by the new president".

Earlier on Monday, ANC Chief Whip Nathi Mthethwa told the National Assembly that President Thabo Mbeki's resignation would take effect on September 25.

Also on Monday, ANC president Jacob Zuma hinted strongly that his deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, would be nominated by his party to take over from Mbeki.

In her statement, Mbete noted that the resignation of the president did not require the resignation of other Cabinet members.

"In the event that some ministers decide to resign both from Cabinet and the National Assembly, the African National Congress would need to fill the vacancies," the statement read.