About three weeks ago, in a development that caught many political observers by surprise, South African President Thabo Mbeki was removed from office by his party, the African National Congress (ANC). It was the culmination of the simmering differences and struggle between him and the party faction led by his former deputy, Jacob Zuma, who is now the ANC president.

The last straw that brought Mbeki down was the charge by the judge handling corruption allegations against Zuma that the presidency had interfered politically in the case. Mbeki who had been president since 1999 and deputy to post-apartheid South Africa first black president, Nelson Mandela between 1994 and 1999, chose to resign rather than fight the recall by a party he has been a member for over 50 years. His dignified resignation brought to an end 14 years of leadership at the highest level of government in the country.

From all indications, the ANC is a very powerful party. To easily sack a sitting president and continue business as usual suggests a party sure of itself and capable of controlling whatever the aftermath of such an unusual development. Indeed, it is a strong party. Established in 1912, the party over the years took on the character of a liberation movement to fight the hated and obnoxious apartheid system in South Africa. Among some of its most prominent members were the late Albert Lithuli, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisalu, Govan Mbeki (Thabo Mbeki’s father) and Nelson Mandela. They were and are men and women who gave all they had, including their lives for the freedom of their people and country. Since the first democratic election in 1994, the ANC has been the dominant party in the country, controlling almost two-third of parliament.

In a way, Mbeki ouster from power is unprecedented in the sense that Africa is not used to seeing their presidents or leaders willingly throwing in the towel or allowing themselves to be disgraced out of office. Mbeki’s action and conduct is a welcome reprieve in an Africa being stifled by many unwelcome rulers who though long have out-lived their usefulness to their people, still cling furiously to office. Mbeki’s resignation is an eloquent recognition of the temporal nature of power, the indispensability of leaders, but above all a rare nobility of character that accepts and recognizes that there is still a useful life outside political office, even an exalted office as the presidency.

Now with the sacking of Thabo Mbeki, Jacob Zuma, the populist ANC president and his group perhaps have a chance to re-direct the ANC controlled government to the populist course favoured by the Communist Party and the Congress of South African Trade Union (COASATU), the ANC’s two main partners and the grassroots of the party. Would they succeed? Only time will tell. The years ahead may not be smooth sailing for the once sure-footed ANC, especially given the manner of Mbeki’s removal. More ominous for the party, Zuma, its presidential candidate in next year’s election carries a moral baggage. The corruption charges against him were dropped not because he has proved his innocence but because of the allegations of political interference. He may still have to clear his name in a court of law.

For Mbeki, he can hold his head high, having taken the honourable way when confronted with choice of either digging or going quietly for the good of his country. He chose the latter and is today being hailed as an exemplary leader. Whatever his feelings, he has done his best for his country and continent. He was literally born in the struggle and since then has been involved in it for the freedom and development of his people and country. He exemplifies courage, decency and a rare statesmanship. He deserves his people and indeed Africa’s praise.

The other lesson of the Mbeki saga is the need to find a balance between the powers of a party and the government it produces in such a way that neither is too powerful to stifle the other in the onerous discharge of their respective duties and obligations to society.