Thabo Mbeki's resignation letter reads:
Dear Madam Speaker and Honourable Members of Parliament,
On 23 April 2004 I stood before you to thank you for the honour you bestowed upon me by electing me to the high Office of President of the Republic of South Africa.
On that occasion, I asked that we join hands in a popular national movement to speed up the process towards the achievement of the goal of a better life for all our people.
I can say without equivocation that all of you, each in your own way, responded positively to this call to join hands in the effort to ensure that for our people tomorrow would be better than yesterday.
On 27 April 2004, I took the oath of office as president of this country and swore before the entire nation that - would always:
- promote all that will advance the Republic and oppose all that will harm it;
- protect and promote the rights of all South Africans;
- discharge my duties with all my strength and talents to the best of my knowledge and ability and true to the dictates of my conscience;
- do justice to all; and
- devote myself to the well-being of the Republic and all its people.
I want to assure the Honourable Members that the promise that I made to the millions of our people informed all my actions throughout the period that I was privileged to serve as president of this country.
The leadership of my political organisation, the African National Congress, has informed me that they have decided to recall me as president of the country.
This letter serves to inform you, Honourable Members, that I have therefore decided to resign my position as president of the country, effective upon receiving your advice that parliament has finalised this matter.
I have no doubt that the time we spent together in these Houses of Parliament were really fulfilling, enriching and in many ways empowering to all of us. Indeed, when historians look back at the period since our freedom in 1994, they will tell a story of a very rich democratic revolution of our society, ably led by this parliament.
This is so because while the multi-party negotiations and the first democratic elections in South Africa were important, the legislative process of dismantling the apartheid legal edifice was critical to the entrenchment of democracy. Equally, it was this parliament that gave birth to our Constitution, hailed as one of the most progressive Constitutions in the world.
Together we have contributed to the important legacy of deepening democracy in our country. Once again, I want to thank the Honourable Members for allowing me to serve the country in this high office. I thank you also for your support, and candour, during the time we worked together.
Thank you very much and continue with the good work.