President Jacob Zuma’s survived the first meeting of the national executive committee of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress under the leadership of Cyril Ramaphosa.
Members of the party’s top-structure are adamant that Zuma is regarded as a liability for the ANC who must go soon, leaving the party with a clean slate to contest elections next year.
The future of Jacob Zuma dominated discussion ahead of the ANC national executive committee meeting in East London.
In the event it was not on the agenda of the party’s top structure that concentrated on the message Cyril Ramaphosa will deliver at ANC birthday festivities tomorrow (Friday).
The new ANC leader will stresss the importance of party unity and its campaign message for the 2019 election.
No-one is betting that Zuma will survive his constitutional term as president that lasts until that poll. There’s another national executive committee meeting next week.
A group calling itself Transform SA, which is connected to the wealthy Gupta family accused of inappropriately close ties to Zuma, says ousting him prematurely will cause economic havoc and could spark widespread violence.
Ramaphosa has met privately with Zuma explaining that he has a choice between being recalled, which is seen as shameful and will leave him without presidential benefits, or stepping down voluntarily with his dignity intact.