Opposition parties have welcomed the resignation by Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba.
Having failed to persuade the President that he should keep his job, Gigaba quit on the eve of Cyril Ramaphosa’s trip to the European Parliament in Strasbourg and South Africa- European Union summit in Brussels.
Just last week, Malusi Gigaba vowed he would not step down.
He did not give reasons for his resignation in his letter yesterday (Tuesday) to President Cyril Ramaphosa.
It follows a report by the Public Protector Busisiwe Mkhwebane that Gigaba violated the executive ethics code by lying under oath about dealings with the Anglo American Corporation and circulation of an embarrassing sex tape he said he made for his wife.
Gigaba was also heavily criticized for granting citizenship to members of the wealthy Indian family the Guptas accused of corrupt dealings with former President Jacob Zuma.
Opposition politicians said Gigaba had done the honorable thing by falling on his sword.
Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane said Gigaba had done profound damage to state owned enterprises and to South Africa’s tourism industry.
He had done enormous harm to the economy and demonstrated that he could not be trusted.
Transport Minister Blade Nzimande has been asked to step in as Home Affairs Minister until a permanent appointment is made.