For Creamer Media’s Polity, I’m Sane Dhlamini.
Making headlines: ANC welcomes Zuma's resignation, Ramaphosa is now acting president And, Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies

 

The ANC has accepted President Jacob Zuma's resignation as head of state.

Speaking shortly after the resignation, deputy secretary general Jessie Duarte said Zuma's decision to resign was consistent with his organisation.

Duarte said Zuma had reaffirmed his commitment to the principles, practices and character of the movement.

While the party accepted that Zuma was not perfect, it saluted and thanked him for his “outstanding constitution”.After Jacob Zuma’s resignation as president last night, Cyril Ramaphosa automatically became acting president of the republic.

 

Ramaphosa is now acting president

 

After Jacob Zuma’s resignation as president last night, Cyril Ramaphosa automatically became acting president of the republic.

According to Section 90 of the Constitution, when there is a vacancy in the office of president, the first person in line to act as president is the deputy president.

The ANC on Wednesday indicated that they would like the State of the Nation Address to be delivered on Friday at 7pm by a president and not an acting president. Ramaphosa is expected to be sworn in this afternoon as the State President.

 

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai dies

Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s former prime minister, has passed away, officials from within his Movement for Democratic Change party said.

MDC's national spokesperson Obert Gutu described Tsvangirai as "a political icon" and "a humble and tenacious fighter for the creation of a peaceful, stable, democratic and progressive nation state in Zimbabwe".

Tsvangirai emerged as a powerful public speaker and opposition leader, organising protests to try to push out former Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe who resigned late last year.

 

Also making headlines:
South Africa's rand hovered near two-and-half year highs against the US dollar boosted by President Jacob Zuma's late night resignation.

That’s a roundup of news making headlines today
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