South Africa's President Jacob Zuma resigns
Jacob Zuma
JOHANNESBURG --  South African President Jacob Zuma  said  he  has resigned "with immediate effect."  The scandal-tainted leader  made the announcement late Wednesday in a televised address to the nation  avoiding  his  almost certain ouster in a parliamentary vote scheduled for Thursday after years of corruption scandals.
 Zuma 's resignation came after the ruling African National Congress party instructed  him  to leave office by the end of Wednesday or face the motion of no confidence in parliament.  His  departure ended a leadership crisis in one of Africa's biggest economies and set the stage for ruling party lawmakers to elect acting president Cyril Ramaphosa  previously deputy president  as  Zuma 's successor.
"I have served the people of South Africa to the best of my ability  " Zuma  said  AFP reported. "I am forever grateful that they trusted me with the highest office in the land."
"I don't fear exiting political office however I have only asked my party to articulate my transgressions and the reason for its instructions that I vacate office "  he  said.
 Zuma 's tenure has been marred by years of corruption scandals.  He  has been in a vulnerable position since December  when  his  rival  Ramaphosa  was chosen to lead the party  the BBC reports.
South Africa's ruling party welcomed  Zuma 's resignation after months of growing public anger over multiple corruption allegations. The ANC expressed gratitude for  Zuma 's "loyal service" and issued a statement saying  his  resignation provided "certainty to the people of South Africa."
 The former president  was defiant in a television interview earlier Wednesday  saying  he  had done nothing wrong. "I'm being victimized here "  Zuma  told state broadcaster SABC.  He  complained that Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders had not given  him  clear reasons about why  he  should go.
On Wednesday morning  police raided the home of prominent business associates of  Zuma  who are accused of being at the center of corruption scandals that have infuriated the country  hurt the ANC's popularity and weakened the economy. An elite police unit entered the compound of the Gupta family  which has been accused of using its connections to  the president  to influence Cabinet appointments and win state contracts. The Guptas deny any wrongdoing.
The ANC  which has led South Africa since the end of white minority rule in 1994  had wanted  Zuma  to end  his  second five-year term early so that it could build up support ahead of 2019 elections.
 Zuma  had been in power since 2009.
JOHANNESBURG --   [TGT] said   [TGT]   has resigned "with immediate effect."  The scandal-tainted leader  made the announcement late Wednesday in a televised address to the nation  avoiding  his  almost certain ouster in a parliamentary vote scheduled for Thursday after years of corruption scandals.
  [TGT]  's resignation came after the ruling African National Congress party instructed   [TGT]   to leave office by the end of Wednesday or face the motion of no confidence in parliament.   [TGT]   departure ended a leadership crisis in one of Africa's biggest economies and set the stage for ruling party lawmakers to elect acting president Cyril Ramaphosa  previously deputy president  as  Zuma 's successor.
"I have served the people of South Africa to the best of my ability  " Zuma  said  AFP reported. "I am forever grateful that they trusted me with the highest office in the land."
"I don't fear exiting political office however I have only asked my party to articulate my transgressions and the reason for its instructions that I vacate office "  he  said.
  [TGT]  's tenure has been marred by years of corruption scandals.   [TGT]   has been in a vulnerable position since December  when   [TGT]   rival  Ramaphosa  was chosen to lead the party  the BBC reports.
South Africa's ruling party welcomed   [TGT]  's resignation after months of growing public anger over multiple corruption allegations. The ANC expressed gratitude for   [TGT]  's "loyal service" and issued a statement saying   [TGT]   resignation provided "certainty to the people of South Africa."
 The former president  was defiant in a television interview earlier Wednesday  saying   [TGT]   had done nothing wrong. "I'm being victimized here "  Zuma  told state broadcaster SABC.  He  complained that Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders had not given  him  clear reasons about why  he  should go.
On Wednesday morning  police raided the home of prominent business associates of  Zuma  who are accused of being at the center of corruption scandals that have infuriated the country  hurt the ANC's popularity and weakened the economy. An elite police unit entered the compound of the Gupta family  which has been accused of using its connections to  the president  to influence Cabinet appointments and win state contracts. The Guptas deny any wrongdoing.
The ANC  which has led South Africa since the end of white minority rule in 1994  had wanted  Zuma  to end  his  second five-year term early so that it could build up support ahead of 2019 elections.
 Zuma  had been in power since 2009.