Zuma steps down from presidency, tenders resignation

South African president Jacob Zuma has stepped down from power with immediate effective after tendering his resignation letter to parliament, marking a dramatic end to a controversy-plagued decade in power.

In a 30-minute farewell address to the nation on Thursday, Zuma, 75 slammed the way his African National Congress (ANC) party had pushed him towards an early exit,following the election of his vice, Cyril Ramaphosa as party president in December.

Admitting defeat, he said he would accept the orders.

I have therefore come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect, Zuma said.

Even though I disagree with the decision of the leadership of my organisation, I have always been a disciplined member of the ANC.

The ruling party had said it would vote him out on Thursday. No life should be lost in my name. And also the ANC should not be divided in my name.

Zuma was ordered by the ANC to step down as president on Tuesday morning following hours of a marathon closed-door meeting to decides Zuma's fate.

Though Zuma has initially refused to resign on Wednesday, the ANC said it would back an opposition motion in parliament to force him out.

Zuma who has four wives, a former anti-apartheid resistance fighter, and faced numerous allegations of corruption, has been in power since 2009.