POLOKWANE, Dec 18: South African President Thabo Mbeki was humiliatingly toppled Tuesday from the helm of the ruling ANC by arch rival Jacob Zuma, the man he sacked as deputy head of state two years ago.

After a bitter election contest which saw some of Mbeki’s chief lieutenants booed and heckled at an ongoing conference, Zuma was formally declared the winner by a margin of 824 votes.

“The number of votes received by Comrade Thabo Mbeki was 1,505. The number of votes received by Comrade Jacob Zuma is 2,329,” Dren Nupen, head of the party’s elections commission announced.

Mbeki then hugged Zuma and delegates erupted into chants of “ANC, ANC”.

Victory caps a remarkable political comeback for the scandal-plagued Zuma, who still faces the prospect of being charged with corruption.

The 65-year-old was sacked by Mbeki as deputy head of state in 2005 when his financial advisor was jailed for fraud and later stood trial for raping a family friend less than half his age.

Although he was acquitted, he was widely ridiculed for testifying he had showered after sex with his HIV-positive accuser in order to prevent infection.

Given the ANC’s large majority in parliament, Zuma would normally almost be guaranteed the job of state president come elections in 2009 after his victory in the internal contest.

But he faces being charged with corruption after losing a recent court bid to have a series of search warrants declared illegal.

While Mbeki has two years left as state president, his authority has been badly undermined by the defeat, with some commentators predicting he could face efforts by Zuma’s camp to force him out of office early.

An ethnic Zulu whose earthy charm contrasts sharply with the aloof Mbeki, Zuma has cashed in on growing disillusionment with the government’s failure to eradicate poverty in the 13 years since the end of whites-only rule.

Although Mbeki, also 65, can point to an uninterrupted period of growth, unemployment is unofficially estimated to be around 40 percent.

Many analysts believe however that Mbeki’s defeat was more as a result of his aloof and authoritarian style which had alienated many in his party rather than a firm vote of confidence in Zuma.—AFP