Vice-President Mlambo-Ngcuka is among the long list of departing Mbeki allies [EPA]

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, the deputy president, too has agreed to quit, her spokesman said on Tuesday.

Trevor Manuel, the finance minister, a man perceived as being instrumental in South Africa's recent economic stability, is also among the officials reported to have resigned.

All the resignations will take effect after an official ceremony on Thursday, when the country's chief justice will swear in an interim president in the run-up to next year's general elections.

The ANC, which ousted Mbeki over the weekend, has recommended its deputy president, Kgalema Motlanthe, to take over as that post.

Jessie Duarte, an ANC spokeswoman, told 702 Talk Radio in Johannesburg, the commercial capital, on Tuesday that the party wants Motlanthe as acting president so that Zuma could be elected next year with "a fresh mandate.''

Divided house

Mbeki's departure was forced in part by accusations that he interfered in the prosecution of his rival, Jacob Zuma.

The African National Congress party (ANC) is divided between supporters of Mbeki and his rival, Jacob Zuma, the ANC leader.

Zuma, the man expected to become South Africa's next president when elections are held in 2009, is not eligible to replace Mbeki at this stage because he is not a member of parliament.

Zuma's supporters say they wanted the cabinet to stay in place to ensure a smooth transition.

Mbeki had faced criticism over allegations that he pushed for corruption charges to be brought against Zuma.

A court ruling, handed down on September 12, threw out charges of corruption against Zuma, saying the prosecuting team violated some of his procedural rights.

Bulelani Ngcuka, the former prosecutor, said in 2003 that there was a case against
Zuma, but did not press charges because, in political terms, he said the case
was "unwinnable."

Parliament's seal

The national assembly formally adopted a motion by 299 to 10 votes on Tuesday,
accepting Mbeki's resignation and thanking him for his service to the nation for the past 14 years as deputy and then national president.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance voted in favour of the motion but
said it was troubled by the ANC's behaviour.

Sandra Botha, the alliance's leader, said: "The ANC's decision to force the resignation of President Thabo Mbeki was motivated purely by revenge and the desire to settle political scores.

"It has nothing to do with the interests of the people of South Africa."

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