President Thabo Mbeki has sacked his deputy Jacob Zuma. The announcement was made during a special joint sitting of the two Houses of Parliament this afternoon, almost two weeks after Zuma was implicated in corruption during the Durban High Court trial of his former financial advisor, Schabir Shaik.

Last week Squires sentenced Shaik to 15 years in prison for fraud and corruption. Squires found the two men had had a "generally corrupt" relationship.

Mbeki told the joint sitting that it seemed self-evident that arising out of the judgment further legal processes would be undertaken in the higher courts *1.

These would have a bearing on normal enquiries that law enforcement agencies might wish to undertake, and on follow up that Parliament might embark on in relation to any of its members.

"The executive will therefore await the outcome of these processes," he said.

Both he and Zuma were acutely sensitive to the responsibilities they bore as prescribed in the Constitution.

"We understand very well that we should at all times act in a manner that seeks to uphold, defend, and respect the Constitution *2.

"We have had no precedent to guide us as we consider our response to the judgment by Justice Squires. We have therefore had to make our own original determination on this matter guided by what we believe is in the best interest of the Honourable Deputy President, the government, our young democratic system and our country.

"I am fully conscious of the fact that the accused in the Schabir Shaik case have given notice of their intention lodge an appeal.

"I am equally aware that a superior court may *3 overturn the judgment handed down by Justice Squires," he said.

"However, as President of the Republic I have come to the conclusion that the circumstances dictate that in the interests of the Honourable Deputy President, the government, our young democratic system, and our country, it would be best to release the Honourable Jacob Zuma from his responsibilities as Deputy President of the Republic and member of the Cabinet." However, all developments in the relevant legal processes would be monitored and responded to, Mbeki said.

Mbeki appointed Zuma deputy president in 1999, and again in 2004. He was widely expected to succeed Mbeki in 2009.

From the start, Zuma has maintained his innocence on the corruption allegations and pointed out he has not been convicted of any crime.

According to media speculation, Zuma had refused to resign, leaving Mbeki with no choice but to fire him.

Opposition parties repeatedly called for Zuma to step down or to be fired, but he received strong support from the Congress of SA Trade Unions (Cosatu), the African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL), ANC Women's League (ANCWL), and the Young Communist League (YCL).

However, on Sunday, Zuma told a Cosatu meeting in Durban he was prepared to become an ordinary member of the ANC.

"I have served as a branch member with no position (as an) ordinary activist, and I have served with some responsibilities in a branch, and I have served at many levels.

"I will always be ready to do that, even today. The day the ANC says do this I will do it," the SABC quoted Zuma as saying.

Zuma's dismissal could pave the way for Mbeki to use the opportunity to reshuffle his Cabinet.

With acknowledgement to Sapa and Business Day.

*1 Not the higher courts - the High Courts.

*2 Walk the talk, or Walk the Walk.

*3 Any takers on a Probabilities Duel?