Opposition parties react to Zuma's resignation

The former Head of State bowed down to pressure from the ANC National Executive Committee and stepped down last night.

The ANC Caucus yesterday gave Zuma a deadline to resign following the NEC's decision to recall the president. 

The DA released a statement saying they hope the outgoing president will face the 783 criminal charges still awaiting him before the courts. The statement further reads that there'll be no amnesty or immunity for Jacob Zuma.

"You have cost the country and in the process destroyed the gains of our freedom," UDM's Bantu Holomisa tweeted. 

ALSO READ: LISTEN: Jacob Zuma's resignation speech in full

The EFF's Julius Malema said 'thank you fighters, stay focus' on the social media network. The party will hold a media briefing at midday today. 

Speaking shortly after the resignation, ANC Deputy Secretary General, Jesse Duarte welcomed the move and said Zuma was well within his rights to ask the party for the reasons that led to him being recalled.

The ANC in the Western Cape says it wasn’t easy to recall the president but he was starting to become a liability. The party's Faiez Jacobs says they welcome his resignation. 

"We saw that there were big challenges around Zuma. If you are going into any organisation, an you become a liability - and everybody tells you they are not happy about you. It took us a long time to convince him but eventually he has now accepted that we needed the change," he says.

NOW READ: Zuma disagrees with ANC's decision of recall

Parliament is set to elect a new president today. The election will make way for the State of the Nation Address to be delivered tomorrow.

KZN residents have been reacting to the historic news. Listen to their views below.