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South Africa's new president to be elected on Thursday
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-09-25 06:40

JOHANNESBURG -- The new president of South Africa will be elected at a parliamentary sitting in Cape Town on Thursday, the South African Press Association reported on Wednesday.

Members of the national assembly will meet in the chamber at 11a.m. local time (0900GMT) and, following short period for prayers and meditation, Chief Justice Pius Langa will call for nominations of candidates for election as president and thereafter announce the names of the persons duly nominated.

"Depending on the number of valid nominations received, the election is not expected to last more than two hours," said Vuyelwa Qinga-Vika, head of parliament's media management unit.

Thereafter the President elect, at the invitation the Speaker, Baleka Mbete will address the house. The proceedings will then adjourn.

"The swearing in of the President-elect is expected to take place at Tuynhuis in the same afternoon."

The new president is expected to announce the Cabinet and deputy president immediately after being sworn in.

South African President Thabo Mbeki tendered  his resignation on Sunday.

The resignation will be effective from a date to be decided by South Africa's parliament, Mbeki said Sundy in a television speech.

The decision came after the top-level National Executive Committee of African National Congress (ANC) decided on Saturday to recall Mbeki before the end of his term next year.

"Today (Sunday) I handed a letter to the honourable Speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete to tender my resignation as President of South Africa," Mbeki said in the speech.

Mbeki said he had been loyal, and traced some of the country's social and economic achievements during his tenure.

"We must admit that we are still faced with many challenges in this regards."

Mbeki has come under pressure to quit following the judge's ruling last week that Mbeki was instrumental in Zuma being charged with corruption.

Mbeki became President in 1999, taking over from Nelson Mandela. He was due to leave office in April, 2009.

He was the head of the ANC from 1997 until he lost a battle for power at the ANC's national conference in Polokwane in December 2007, when Zuma, his former deputy president, became the head of the organization.