South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki dismissed his deputy Tuesday after he was implicated in a corruption scandal, throwing wide open the question of who will succeed Mbeki. Deputy President Jacob Zuma, who retains widespread support, had been groomed to take over from Mbeki at the helm of Africa's economic and diplomatic powerhouse when he stands down in 2009. Mbeki noted that Zuma has not been charged with an offense, but said a high court judge's ruling that he had a "generally corrupt" relationship with his financial adviser required the president to act. "I have come to the conclusion that the circumstances dictate that in the interest of the honorable deputy president, the government, our young democratic system, and our country, it would be best to release the honorable Jacob Zuma from his responsibilities as deputy president of the republic and member of the Cabinet," Mbeki told a special joint session of Parliament, according to a report of the Associated Press.
