Zuma Jacob survives ANC scare to throw him out of power

South African president, Jacob Zuma has survived the removal scare by his own party as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) leaders did not back his removal.

Gwede Mantashe, secretary-general of ANC briefed the media about discussions within the governing party to remove President Jacob Zuma from office.

A BBC reporter at the briefing in Johannesburg says Mr Mantashe confirmed the reports in today’s papers that Mr Zuma had survived a bid to oust him at the ANC’s 80-member National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting over the weekend.

According to Gwede, a call was made for ANC President Zuma to consider stepping down. Everyone was allowed to speak. 

Gwede, however, said that the ANC NEC has never voted on any issue. “We reach decisions by consensus,” he said. 

“NEC did not support the call for the president to step down.”

Earlier on November 28, the embattled South African president faced ANC vote of no confidence from the leaders of his own ANC.

He has survived several parliamentary votes but this is the first time the ANC did formally discuss his position.

The top ANC body had extended its meeting to debate the motion, tabled by Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom.

Mr Zuma has increasingly come under criticism over corruption allegations, with a recent report highlighting his links with the wealthy Gupta family.

At least two other cabinet ministers are understood to be backing Mr Hanekom’s proposal – Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi and Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi.

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY

BBC’s Karen Allen in Johannesburg had predicted that this could shape into the toughest battle of Zuma’s career.

Earlier this month, an investigation by the country’s anti-corruption watchdog said a judicial inquiry should be set up to further investigate allegations of criminal activity in Mr Zuma’s government.

The investigation found evidence that the Guptas, a business family with links to Mr Zuma, may have wielded undue political influence over the appointment of ministers.

Both Mr Zuma and the Guptas have denied any wrongdoing.

Earlier this year, the Constitutional Court ruled that he had broken the constitution by refusing to repay government money spent on his private home in rural Nkandla.

In August, the ANC lost control of the key cities of Johannesburg and Pretoria in local elections, for the first time since the end of white-minority rule in 1994.

However, it still gained more than 50% of the national vote.

Analysis: Pumza Fihlani, BBC News, Johannesburg

Trade Unions and civil society groups have all joined calls for President Zuma to step down.

The stage was set as President Jacob Zuma was in a battle for his political life.

In one of the first real pushes within the ruling African National Congress (ANC), top party officials officially debated the president’s removal.

More than 80 NEC members were at loggerheads in a closed meeting in the capital Pretoria since the weekend.

While Mr Zuma was believed to still have a lot of support within the party, some ministers called for a secret vote on the matter, hoping this would help people within the party to vote freely.

There had been numerous attempts by civil society and even opposition parties to have the president sacked but analysts have always said it would take the party itself to remove Mr Zuma – as it did with former President Thabo Mbeki.

Those who want him gone say that the president has become a liability to the more than 100-year-old liberation movement – claims he and his backers have denied.

Mr Zuma’s political time in office had been overshadowed by scandals, accusations of corruption and a lack of leadership.

But Mr Zuma, a master strategist, who has been nicknamed “The Teflon Don” on local social media, has proven to many that he is a survivor.

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