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South Africa: Jacob Zuma report points to possible corruption South Africa: Jacob Zuma report points to possible corruption
(35 minutes later)
An investigation into South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has found evidence of possible corruption at the top level of his government.An investigation into South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has found evidence of possible corruption at the top level of his government.
In the report, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela recommends Mr Zuma establish a judicial commission of inquiry within 30 days.In the report, former Public Protector Thuli Madonsela recommends Mr Zuma establish a judicial commission of inquiry within 30 days.
Mr Zuma is accused of an improper relationship with wealthy businessmen.Mr Zuma is accused of an improper relationship with wealthy businessmen.
He had tried to block the release of the report, but dropped his court bid on Wednesday.He had tried to block the release of the report, but dropped his court bid on Wednesday.
The president and ANC leader has been dogged by corruption allegations for more than a decade, but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.
Undue influence?
The 355-page report calls for further investigation into potential abuses, including the purchase of a mine by Tegeta, co-owned by the president's son, Duduzane Zuma.The 355-page report calls for further investigation into potential abuses, including the purchase of a mine by Tegeta, co-owned by the president's son, Duduzane Zuma.
"If [Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi] Zwane travelled in his official capacity to support Tegeta's bid to buy the mine his conduct would give Tegeta an unfair advantage over other interested buyers," the report notes."If [Mineral Resources Minister Mosebenzi] Zwane travelled in his official capacity to support Tegeta's bid to buy the mine his conduct would give Tegeta an unfair advantage over other interested buyers," the report notes.
"Further, it is potentially unlawful for the Minister to use his official position of authority to unfairly and unduly influence a contract for a friend... This scenario would be further complicated if his actions were sanctioned by the President." "Further, it is potentially unlawful for the minister to use his official position of authority to unfairly and unduly influence a contract for a friend... This scenario would be further complicated if his actions were sanctioned by the president."
The president and ANC leader has been dogged by corruption allegations for more than a decade, but has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. Ms Madonsela investigated allegations that Mr Zuma let the wealthy Gupta family - who co-own Tegeta - wield undue influence in his government.
Ms Madonsela investigated allegations that he let the wealthy Gupta family - who co-own Tegeta - wield undue influence in his government. Her investigation was triggered by allegations from Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas that the Gupta family had made "a mockery of our hard-earned democracy" by offering him the finance minister's post last year.
The Guptas were accused of trying to nominate cabinet ministers in exchange for business favours. Both Mr Zuma and the Gupta family have denied the allegation. The report reveals Mr Jonas told the public protector he was offered 600m rand (£36.2m/$44.6m) in an account of his choice by Mr A Gupta if he agreed to become finance minister.
But the report reveals Deputy Minister of Finance Mcebisi Jonas told the public protector he was offered 600m rand (£36.2m/$44.6m) in an account of his choice by Mr A Gupta if he agreed to become finance minister.
The report continues: "He asked if Mr Jonas had a bag which he could use to receive and carry R600,000 in cash immediately, which he declined."The report continues: "He asked if Mr Jonas had a bag which he could use to receive and carry R600,000 in cash immediately, which he declined."
Mr Zuma's office said the decision to abandon a court bid to block the report's release was made "in the interest of justice and speedy resolution of the matter". There has not been any immediate reaction from Mr Zuma, his family or the Guptas. All had previously denied that claim.
"The president will give consideration to the contents of the report in order to ascertain whether it should be a subject of a court challenge," the statement added. However, an earlier statement from the president's office said the decision to abandon a court bid to block the report's release was made "in the interest of justice and speedy resolution of the matter".
"The president will give consideration to the contents of the report in order to ascertain whether it should be a subject of a court challenge."
Opposition parties, who had challenged Mr Zuma's move, are now demanding that he pays their legal costs.Opposition parties, who had challenged Mr Zuma's move, are now demanding that he pays their legal costs.
Thousands of people gathered in the capital Pretoria and in other cities on Wednesday ahead of the report's publication, demanding Mr Zuma's resignation. Police fired water cannon to disperse protesters. Will Zuma live to fight another day?: Milton Nkosi, BBC News, Pretoria
The protesters, supporters of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, had gathered outside Mr Zuma's main administrative offices in Pretoria. This report is bad for President Jacob Zuma but certainly not as damning as opposition parties and many others had hoped when they went to court.
Opposition groups are also rallying in South Africa's other major cities. The findings and subsequent remedial action seem to kick the can down the road. It says that the president should appoint a judicial commission of inquiry. This means that Mr Zuma would still occupy the highest office in the land for many months to come, as he slowly approaches the end of his second and last term.
There is no doubt that should the inquiry recommend that Mr Zuma be censured, there would be grounds for impeachment.
But that would present a political problem in the house of assembly because Mr Zuma's own party, the ANC, holds an overwhelming majority.
The loyal MPs have overcome many attempts by the opposition to have a vote of no confidence in the president.
Mr Zuma lives to fight another day but he must surely be nearing the last of his nine lives.
Mr Zuma has already survived one investigation into whether or not he "unduly benefited" from government money used to upgrade his private rural home.
It led to widespread calls for Mr Zuma to resign, but he survived an impeachment vote in parliament after ANC MPs rallied behind him.
But the calls were growing once more on Wednesday, as thousands gathered all over the country to demand he step down.
Police fired water cannon to disperse protesters who marched on Mr Zuma's main office in Pretoria ahead of the report's release.
Opposition groups also rallied in South Africa's other major cities.
Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Musi Maimane said state coffers were being "plundered" by "crooks", but the "good guys" were winning in the battle to safeguard the democracy which emerged in South Africa at the end of minority rule in 1994.Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Musi Maimane said state coffers were being "plundered" by "crooks", but the "good guys" were winning in the battle to safeguard the democracy which emerged in South Africa at the end of minority rule in 1994.
"This is about letting Zuma, the Guptas and all their useful idiots know that their days are numbered," Mr Maimane said.
Final straw for Zuma?: Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Pretoria
President Zuma's move was unexpected but it has been welcomed. So why the U-turn?
"He's acknowledging that he has no grounds to prevent the release of the Report on State Capture," said constitutional expert Lawson Naidoo.
For many South Africans who have harboured doubts about whether Mr Zuma should stay in power, his close relationship with the wealthy Gupta family is the final straw.
Although all concerned have denied any wrongdoing, many feel Mr Zuma can no longer be trusted to act in the best interests of the country and its hard-fought constitution.
This is why thousands of people from various opposition parties marched through the streets of Pretoria, calling for Mr Zuma to go.
It is not clear what Mr Zuma's next move is, but he is under pressure from all sides, even many in the governing African National Congress (ANC).
As for South Africans, they say the time of sitting idly by is over - they are fighting back.
Ms Madonsela's investigation was triggered by allegations in March by Deputy Finance Minister Mcebisi Jonas that the Gupta family had made "a mockery of our hard-earned democracy" by offering him the finance minister's post last year.
Mr Jonas said he rejected the offer; the Guptas denied the allegation and accused him of political point-scoring.
Former ANC MP Vytjie Mentor also alleged that the family offered her the powerful public enterprise minister's post in 2010 in exchange for business favours.
Ms Mentor alleged that Mr Zuma was in another part of the Guptas' family home in Johannesburg when the offer was made. Mr Zuma's office said at the time that he had no "recollection" of Ms Mentor, while the family strongly denied her allegation.
The Guptas in South Africa:The Guptas in South Africa:
Who are the Guptas?Who are the Guptas?
Ms Madonsela had planned to release the report last month, before the end of her seven-year term as South Africa's public protector.
The investigation is her second into Mr Zuma since he took office in 2009.
In March, South Africa's highest court upheld her earlier findings that Mr Zuma "unduly benefited" from government money used to upgrade his private rural home.
It led to widespread calls for Mr Zuma to resign, but he survived an impeachment vote in parliament after ANC MPs rallied behind him.
Correspondents say that Mr Zuma will almost certainly face another impeachment vote if there are any adverse findings about him in the latest report.
The president is also at the centre of another case and is trying to overturn a unanimous ruling of a High Court that he should stand trial on 783 counts of corruption in relation to an arms deal negotiated in 1999.
Mr Zuma's term as president is due to end in 2019.