S. African Home Affairs Minister Resigns Over Corruption Allegations

Amid mounting pressure on him to step down, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has submitted a letter of resignation to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Presidency confirmed on Tuesday.

CAPE TOWN, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Nov, 2018 ) :Amid mounting pressure on him to step down, Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba has submitted a letter of resignation to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the Presidency confirmed on Tuesday.

The president has accepted the minister's resignation and expressed his appreciation for Gigaba's longstanding service to the government and people of South Africa, the Presidency said in a statement.

Gigaba indicated in his letter of resignation that he was stepping aside for the sake of his country and the movement to which he belongs, according to presidential spokesperson Khusela Diko.

In the letter, Gigaba said he has chosen to place the interests of the African National Congress (ANC) and the country above his personal interests.

Gigaba also said his resignation would also "relieve the president from undue pressure and allow him to focus on improving the lives of the people of South Africa and for him to do the best he can to serve the country and save it from this economic meltdown," Diko said.

Ramaphosa has requested Minister of Transport Blade Nzimande to act as Minister of Home Affairs until a permanent appointment is made, Diko said.

Gigaba has been embroiled in a series of corruption scandals, notably his alleged role in state capture, which refers to the looting from the state coffer by the controversial Indian Gupta family in collaboration with a number of senior government officials.

However, Gigaba said his resignation is in no way an admission of guilt. Gigaba was appointed as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in 2004 and subsequently served as Minister of Public Enterprises, Minister of Finance and for two intervals, as Minister of Home Affairs.