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| Jacob Zuma meets cabinet ministers amid calls for his resignation | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Pressure is mounting for the South African president to resign ahead of a key national address | Pressure is mounting for the South African president to resign ahead of a key national address |
| Jason Burke Africa correspondent | Jason Burke Africa correspondent |
| Tue 6 Feb 2018 10.53 GMT | |
| First published on Tue 6 Feb 2018 09.38 GMT | |
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| Jacob Zuma is meeting cabinet ministers in Cape Town, as pressure mounts on the embattled South African president to resign before a key national address this week. | |
| A presidential spokesman denied domestic media reports that the ministers had been summoned especially, instead describing the meeting as “routine”. | |
| 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 president, 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 president, who is battling corruption allegations, refused. |
| The party’s national working committee, one of its highest decision-making bodies, met on Monday in Johannesburg. After seven hours of talks, it issued a statement saying the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC), a larger and more senior body, would meet on Wednesday to consider its next step. | The party’s national working committee, one of its highest decision-making bodies, met on Monday in Johannesburg. After seven hours of talks, it issued a statement saying the ANC’s national executive committee (NEC), a larger and more senior body, would meet on Wednesday to consider its next step. |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| His premature departure – Zuma’s 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. | His premature departure – Zuma’s 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The party’s NEC is split between supporters of Ramaphosa and Zuma. Backers and opponents of the president briefly clashed outside the ANC’s headquarters in Johannesburg on Monday morning. | The party’s NEC is split between supporters of Ramaphosa and Zuma. Backers and opponents of the president briefly clashed outside the ANC’s headquarters in Johannesburg on Monday morning. |
| Statements from senior office holders have made clear in recent days that factional rifts within the ANC itself remain deep despite calls for unity. | Statements from senior office holders have made clear in recent days that factional rifts within the ANC itself remain deep despite calls for unity. |
| 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 prominent 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 prominent opposition party, called for the address to be postponed. |
| South Africa | South Africa |
| Jacob Zuma | Jacob Zuma |
| Cyril Ramaphosa | Cyril Ramaphosa |
| ANC (African National Congress) | ANC (African National Congress) |
| Africa | Africa |
| news | news |
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