Jacob Zuma recalled by ruling party, South Africa Cabinet meeting postponed in crisis
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Latest on South Africa’s leadership crisis (all times local):
5:25 p.m.
South Africa’s government says a regular Cabinet meeting scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed amid the turmoil over embattled President Jacob Zuma.
The government says a new date for the meeting will be announced “in due course.”
Communications Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane says the government is “alive” to developments in South Africa’s ruling party, which has told Zuma to resign and expects a response from him on Wednesday.
Kubayi-Ngubane says government services will not be affected.
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2:40 p.m.
South Africa’s ruling party says it expects President Jacob Zuma to respond tomorrow to its declaration that he leave office after rising public anger over multiple scandals.
Ace Magashule, secretary-general of the African National Congress, says the party’s national executive committee has decided to “recall” Zuma.
If Zuma refuses his party’s instruction, the matter could go to parliament for a vote on a motion of no confidence.
Magashule says “it’s obvious” that the party wants Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma.
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2:25 p.m.
The secretary-general of South Africa’s ruling party says he does not know how the scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma will respond to the party’s declaration that he must leave office.
“I don’t know what will happen, but let’s leave it to President Jacob Zuma,” Ace Magashule said.
Magashule says the African National Congress is looking forward to an “amicable solution” and that “it’s obvious” that the party wants Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma.
If Zuma refuses his party’s instruction, the matter could go to parliament for a vote on a motion of no confidence.
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2:15 p.m.
South Africa’s ruling party says the scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma must leave office.
Ace Magashule, secretary-general of the African National Congress, says the party’s national executive committee has decided to “recall” Zuma, who has been discredited by corruption scandals.
Magashule says Zuma previously had agreed to resign but wanted to stay in office for several more months, a condition that the party committee rejected.
If Zuma refuses his party’s instruction, the matter could go to parliament for a vote on a motion of no confidence.
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11:45 a.m.
South African media and an expert close to the ruling African National Congress say that party leaders have delivered an ultimatum to President Jacob Zuma, giving him 48 hours to respond to the party’s order for him to resign.
If Zuma agrees to step down, then Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa will likely become president. However, if Zuma refuses to resign he will then face a vote of no confidence in parliament next week.
Disgraced by a series of corruption scandals, although he claims he has done no wrong, Zuma still retains some support within the ruling party.
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7:45 a.m.
Leaders of South Africa’s ruling ANC party are struggling to remove President Jacob Zuma from office amid reports he asked for concessions in exchange for his resignation.
The African National Congress says it will announce the results of a marathon meeting of its national executive committee at noon (1000 GMT) on Tuesday. Possible options include asking Zuma to resign because of corruption allegations. If he refuses to resign, the matter could go to parliament for a vote on a motion of no confidence.
The political opposition wants a vote to be held this week.
Citing unidentified ANC sources, South African media say Zuma has asked for state security for his family, payment of legal fees and a few more months in office.
