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| ANC leaders meet to decide Jacob Zuma's fate | ANC leaders meet to decide Jacob Zuma's fate |
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| Party’s decision-makers to meet on Monday and could order South Africa’s president to resign | Party’s decision-makers to meet on Monday and could order South Africa’s president to resign |
| Jason Burke Africa correspondent | Jason Burke Africa correspondent |
| Mon 5 Feb 2018 11.24 GMT | Mon 5 Feb 2018 11.24 GMT |
| First published on Mon 5 Feb 2018 08.20 GMT | First published on Mon 5 Feb 2018 08.20 GMT |
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| Jacob Zuma is fighting for his political survival as pressure mounts on the South African president to resign before a key national address this week. | Jacob Zuma is fighting for his political survival as pressure mounts on the South African president to resign before a key national address this week. |
| Senior leaders of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) met Zuma over the weekend to ask him to step down. Local media reported that the 75-year-old politician, who is battling corruption allegations, refused. | Senior leaders of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) met Zuma over the weekend to ask him to step down. Local media reported that the 75-year-old politician, who is battling corruption allegations, refused. |
| The party’s national working committee, one of its highest decision-making bodies, met on Monday in Johannesburg to consider its next step. | The party’s national working committee, one of its highest decision-making bodies, met on Monday in Johannesburg to consider its next step. |
| One possibility is that Zuma will be ordered to resign, though this may raise significant constitutional issues. According to ANC rules, all members – even elected officials – fulfil their functions according to the will of the party. | One possibility is that Zuma will be ordered to resign, though this may raise significant constitutional issues. According to ANC rules, all members – even elected officials – fulfil their functions according to the will of the party. |
| The premature departure of Zuma, whose second five-year term is due to expire next year, will consolidate the power of Cyril Ramaphosa, who was elected leader of the ANC in December. | The premature departure of Zuma, whose second five-year term is due to expire next year, will consolidate the power of Cyril Ramaphosa, who was elected leader of the ANC in December. |
| Supporters of Ramaphosa, a multimillionaire businessman who is seen as the standard bearer of the reformist wing of the party, say it is essential that Zuma is sidelined as early as possible to allow the ANC to regroup before campaigning starts in earnest for elections in 2019. | Supporters of Ramaphosa, a multimillionaire businessman who is seen as the standard bearer of the reformist wing of the party, say it is essential that Zuma is sidelined as early as possible to allow the ANC to regroup before campaigning starts in earnest for elections in 2019. |
| Adriaan Basson, a senior South African journalist, wrote: “Zuma has played all his cards and is now at open war with Ramaphosa and his supporters.” | Adriaan Basson, a senior South African journalist, wrote: “Zuma has played all his cards and is now at open war with Ramaphosa and his supporters.” |
| Zuma is facing 18 charges of money laundering, racketeering and fraud based on allegations relating to more than 700 payments between 1995 and 2000s. Some of the charges are said to be linked to a multibillion-dollar arms deal in 1999. The charges were dropped shortly before Zuma became president in 2009, but were reinstated in 2016. He is appealing against that decision, and denies any wrongdoing. | Zuma is facing 18 charges of money laundering, racketeering and fraud based on allegations relating to more than 700 payments between 1995 and 2000s. Some of the charges are said to be linked to a multibillion-dollar arms deal in 1999. The charges were dropped shortly before Zuma became president in 2009, but were reinstated in 2016. He is appealing against that decision, and denies any wrongdoing. |
| In 2014 a constitutionally mandated independent corruption watchdog accused Zuma of spending millions of pounds of taxpayer's money to turn his house in his home village of Nkandla into a display of “opulence on a grand scale”. Zuma denied the charge but South Africa’s highest court eventually forced him to repay some of the money. | In 2014 a constitutionally mandated independent corruption watchdog accused Zuma of spending millions of pounds of taxpayer's money to turn his house in his home village of Nkandla into a display of “opulence on a grand scale”. Zuma denied the charge but South Africa’s highest court eventually forced him to repay some of the money. |
| The president has repeatedly been accused of improper relations with the Guptas, a very wealthy family of businessmen. Zuma’s son works for the Guptas and the president is accused of allowing the family to benefit from government contracts and handpick senior officials. Zuma and the Guptas deny any wrongdoing. | The president has repeatedly been accused of improper relations with the Guptas, a very wealthy family of businessmen. Zuma’s son works for the Guptas and the president is accused of allowing the family to benefit from government contracts and handpick senior officials. Zuma and the Guptas deny any wrongdoing. |
| In 2016, Zuma was forced to order a review of the purchase with public funds of hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cars for his four wives. The 11 cars included four Range Rover SUVs and, two Land Rover Discovery SUVs. | In 2016, Zuma was forced to order a review of the purchase with public funds of hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of cars for his four wives. The 11 cars included four Range Rover SUVs and, two Land Rover Discovery SUVs. |
| Zuma had led the ANC since 2007 and has been South Africa’s president since 2009. His tenure in both posts has been controversial, with a series of corruption scandals undermining the image and legitimacy of the party that led South Africans to freedom in 1994 and has ruled ever since. | Zuma had led the ANC since 2007 and has been South Africa’s president since 2009. His tenure in both posts has been controversial, with a series of corruption scandals undermining the image and legitimacy of the party that led South Africans to freedom in 1994 and has ruled ever since. |
| The ANC still dominates the political landscape in South Africa but its popularity has been dented by a failure to transform the lives of the country’s poor. The party lost control of several cities in municipal elections in 2016 and may be forced into a coalition after the 2019 vote. | The ANC still dominates the political landscape in South Africa but its popularity has been dented by a failure to transform the lives of the country’s poor. The party lost control of several cities in municipal elections in 2016 and may be forced into a coalition after the 2019 vote. |
| The party’s top decision-making body is split between supporters of Ramaphosa and Zuma. Supporters and opponents of the president briefly clashed outside the ANC’s headquarters in Johannesburg on Monday morning. | The party’s top decision-making body is split between supporters of Ramaphosa and Zuma. Supporters and opponents of the president briefly clashed outside the ANC’s headquarters in Johannesburg on Monday morning. |
| Statements from senior office holders in recent days have made clear that factional rifts within the ANC itself remain deep despite calls for unity. | Statements from senior office holders in recent days have made clear that factional rifts within the ANC itself remain deep despite calls for unity. |
| Paul Mashatile, the ANC treasurer-general, told reporters on Friday the president should step down. “There should be a change of guard. You can’t have two centres of power. The best possible way is if the state president exits,” Mashatile said. | Paul Mashatile, the ANC treasurer-general, told reporters on Friday the president should step down. “There should be a change of guard. You can’t have two centres of power. The best possible way is if the state president exits,” Mashatile said. |
| Ace Magashule, the ANC secretary-general and a Zuma loyalist, said the president would still address the opening of parliament in Cape Town on Thursday. The Democratic Alliance, a major opposition party, called for the address to be postponed. | Ace Magashule, the ANC secretary-general and a Zuma loyalist, said the president would still address the opening of parliament in Cape Town on Thursday. The Democratic Alliance, a major opposition party, called for the address to be postponed. |
| The Economic Freedom Fighters, a second opposition party, has called for a fresh no-confidence motion, which will be heard on 22 February. | The Economic Freedom Fighters, a second opposition party, has called for a fresh no-confidence motion, which will be heard on 22 February. |
| Zuma narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in August, when some ANC parliamentarians voted with the opposition. However this will be the first since Ramaphosa took over the leadership of the party. | Zuma narrowly survived a no-confidence vote in August, when some ANC parliamentarians voted with the opposition. However this will be the first since Ramaphosa took over the leadership of the party. |
| The only ANC body with the formal power to order Zuma to resign is its national executive committee (NEC). If there is agreement at the national working committee on Monday, the larger and more senior NEC will then meet to recommend rapid action against the president. This is unlikely before the state of the nation address on Thursday, experts say. | The only ANC body with the formal power to order Zuma to resign is its national executive committee (NEC). If there is agreement at the national working committee on Monday, the larger and more senior NEC will then meet to recommend rapid action against the president. This is unlikely before the state of the nation address on Thursday, experts say. |
| The timing and form of any move will depend on the shifting and unpredictable dynamics of a complex struggle for power within the uppermost ranks of the ANC. | The timing and form of any move will depend on the shifting and unpredictable dynamics of a complex struggle for power within the uppermost ranks of the ANC. |
| In 2008 Thabo Mbeki stood down as president a year before the end of his term after the ruling party formally requested his resignation over allegations he misused his power. His deputy then took power, until Jacob Zuma led the party to another victory in elections in 2009 and became president. | In 2008 Thabo Mbeki stood down as president a year before the end of his term after the ruling party formally requested his resignation over allegations he misused his power. His deputy then took power, until Jacob Zuma led the party to another victory in elections in 2009 and became president. |
| “Zuma’s days in the office can definitely be counted in weeks, not months,” said Jakkie Cilliers, an analyst with the Institute for Security Studies, a Pretoria-based thinktank. | “Zuma’s days in the office can definitely be counted in weeks, not months,” said Jakkie Cilliers, an analyst with the Institute for Security Studies, a Pretoria-based thinktank. |
| Susan Booysen, professor of politics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, said the president could potentially hold on for longer, though any delay would damage the ANC. | Susan Booysen, professor of politics at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, said the president could potentially hold on for longer, though any delay would damage the ANC. |
| “The ANC is trying to project this image of a party with a new drive and momentum but this is such a mess-up. Any recent gains are not irreversible even if the inexorable overall direction of travel is clear and Zuma has his back to the wall,” Booysen said. | “The ANC is trying to project this image of a party with a new drive and momentum but this is such a mess-up. Any recent gains are not irreversible even if the inexorable overall direction of travel is clear and Zuma has his back to the wall,” Booysen said. |
| As president, Ramaphosa will have to balance the need to reassure foreign investors and local businesses against the intense popular demand for dramatic measures to address South Africa’s deep problems. | As president, Ramaphosa will have to balance the need to reassure foreign investors and local businesses against the intense popular demand for dramatic measures to address South Africa’s deep problems. |
| The 68-year-old former trade union leader has said South Africa was coming out of a “period of uncertainty, a period of darkness, and getting into a new phase”. | |
| The ANC will also face a long period of adjustment, and introspection. | The ANC will also face a long period of adjustment, and introspection. |
| “Zuma will leave a legacy of disbelief and embarrassment and a sense of ‘how could we let this happen?’. There is so much disrepute from this era that it is difficult to contemplate,” said Booysen. | “Zuma will leave a legacy of disbelief and embarrassment and a sense of ‘how could we let this happen?’. There is so much disrepute from this era that it is difficult to contemplate,” said Booysen. |
| Jacob Zuma | Jacob Zuma |
| ANC (African National Congress) | ANC (African National Congress) |
| South Africa | South Africa |
| Africa | Africa |
| news | news |
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