Zuma is likely to remain in office despite pressure on him to quit

JOHANNESBURG, Sunday

As pressure continues to mount on South African President Jacob Zuma to step down following a scathing constitutional court judgement against him, analysts say he is likely to continue as president because he enjoys much support within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).

On Thursday, the Constitutional Court ruled that Zuma violated the Constitution by not paying the money spent on non-security upgrades at his private home as recommended by Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

South African opposition parties have vowed to do all within their power to ensure that Zuma is removed from office.

Democratic Alliance (DA) leader Mmusi Maimane said his party wants Zuma impeached.

“President Zuma must be removed from office. He has failed to defend the Constitution of the republic. We have filed a motion to impeach President Zuma. We believe action must be taken,” Mr Maimane said.

‘’At the upcoming local elections South Africans must come out and say it cannot be President Zuma alone but that it was the fault of the entire ANC. We need a constitutional order that is functional and a country that will take us forward,” Maimane said.

Congress of the People leader Mousia Lekota is also calling for Zuma to go, saying that “Urgent action needs to be taken. ‘’We cannot continue running our country with an individual who has broken his oath of office.”

But analysts say it is only Parliament that has the power to remove Zuma.

However, they say the ANC will use their majority in Parliament to protect Zuma and make sure he remains in office.

For the impeachment motion to succeed, it requires a two-thirds majority. This will be out of the reach of the opposition.

The ANC Women’s League has already come out in full support of President Zuma.

‘’We have learnt lessons from the judgement and wish to state it equivocally, unambiguously and categorically clear that we firmly stand behind the ANC President Jacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma, who even before the ruling, indicated his preparedness to pay in accordance with the Public Protector’s recommendations,” the league said in a statement.

The ANC Youth League (ANCYL) also threw its weight behind Mr Zuma, saying it does not believe that Zuma should step down because the Constitutional Court did not say the president must step down.

Meanwhile, the South African parliament will next week discuss an opposition motion to impeach President Zuma.

The speaker of parliament Baleka Mbete told journalists that the move by the Democratic Alliance (DA) would be considered on April 5.

The DA is pushing for Zuma to be impeached after the Constitutional Court on Thursday ruled that he had “failed to uphold, defend and respect the constitution” in ignoring the ombudswoman’s directives to repay a portion of public funds.