His voice choked with emotion, Narend Singh on Tuesday succumbed to the cloak-and-dagger sex scandal that has consumed his life by resigning from his KwaZulu-Natal cabinet post.
The move has opened the door for Premier S'bu Ndebele to make a cabinet reshuffle that analysts think will result in Singh's Inkatha Freedom Party losing one of its three seats in the provincial executive.
Singh hosted a press conference at his Umkomaas home on the South Coast.
Unable to hold back the tears, the Arts, Culture and Tourism MEC said the "highly embarrassing" saga had put him under severe strain that "went beyond the call of duty".
Sitting beside his wife, Manitha, Singh read from a prepared statement that made no mention of Durban socialite Roseann Narandas nor the mirror-decked hotel room where they were allegedly caught on film.
"I find it sad that something that should be personal, private and absolutely beyond intrusion should have become part of the public domain," he said.
Singh then outlined his contribution to public life and read confidently from the statement, until he reached the paragraph that announced his resignation from the provincial legislature.
"There comes a time when enough is enough," he said tearfully, turning to the downcast Manitha, who placed a supportive hand on her husband's arm.
"It is causing great distress to my family who, as you can see, support me fully and with great loyalty. In fairness to them - and to myself - I have consequently decided to step down from government office. I am not prepared to sacrifice the pride and dignity of my family at the altar of blackmail and political back-stabbing. My family is the sum of my happiness."
Singh said that he had made peace with "my maker and my wife".
He said that while his family believed he was a "victim", ultimately the public would decide.
Singh refused to take questions but, in reply to The Mercury, joked that he would ask his son for a job, driving buses for the family business.
Asked if he would ever accept any elected or appointed public position, he replied: "I don't know," before being hustled away by his family.
In his statement, Singh said: "I intend continuing to serve the community, as I began" (as the treasurer of a local school board).
Outside Singh's luxury home, the parking lot of an adjoining petrol station under construction was filled with the luxury cars of well-wishers from the sugar farming community, who came out in droves to show their support.
His family has run a coach business in the area for more than a decade. A sign outside the house advertises diesel and oil for sale "at reasonable prices".
Beneath it a group of men who did not make it into the press conference inside were deep in conversation about blackmailers and the "irresistible beauty of Narandas".
On Tuesday, police spokesperson Bala Naidoo said police were investigating the Singh matter and collecting statements.
"We have not made an arrest nor are we questioning any suspect. We are investigating a case of crimen injuria, which is the intentional infringement of the dignity and honour of another person."
At the press conference Singh paid tribute to the IFP, saying he would continue to uphold the policies and principles of the party.
IFP spokesperson Mntomuhle Khawula, who sat beside Singh's daughter Keshika at the press conference, said the IFP accepted Singh's resignation.
Khawula would not be drawn on whether Singh's actions with Narandas were contrary to the "policies and principles" of the IFP. He referred queries to IFP national spokesperson Musa Zondi, who said the party received the news with "some trepidation... we were sorry since the whole saga broke out".
Pressed about the party's moral stance on the issue, Zondi said a decision on whether Singh had breached the party's principles would only be determined by an IFP disciplinary committee after presentations by Singh and "a thorough debate and an understanding of the circumstances".
Zondi said it was up to Ndebele to decide whether Singh's cabinet seat was filled by an IFP member.
Ndebele's spokesperson said the premier had heard about Singh's intention to resign, but had not received a letter to that effect.