Durban (PTI): South Africa's only Indian-origin provincial premier has been sacked by the ruling ANC, apparently falling prey to the bitter power-struggle between President Thabo Mbeki and party chief Jacob Zuma.

A close associate of Mbeki, Premier of the Western Cape province Ebrahim Rassool announced his resignation at a meeting attended by the chairperson of the African National Congress Baleka Mbete in Cape Town.

Appointed as the Premier in 2003 by President Thabo Mbeki, Rassool, whose grand-parents came to South Africa from Gujarat, said that he had served in his position honestly and effectively and was sad to step down.

Rassool has also resigned from the Cape provincial legislature.

Mbete, also Speaker of Parliament, told reporters that Rassool was asked to resign for "political reasons" and to prepare for the general elections next year.

Though Rassool gave no reasons for the move, it is believed he was axed because of his support for Mbeki during the ANC national conference in the town of Polokwane last December when Mbeki lost the ANC presidency to Zuma.