JOHANNESBURG (AP) — South Africans are yearning for an end to a period of political limbo in which President Jacob Zuma has remained in office despite nationwide calls for him to resign because of corruption allegations.
The wait for news on the fate of the leader of one of Africa’s biggest economies, who appears politically damaged beyond repair, stirred speculation that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zuma’s expected successor, was negotiating a deal with the president in exchange for his resignation.
While Ramaphosa has said that a key committee of South Africa’s ruling ANC party planned to finalize “a transition to a new administration” at a meeting on Monday afternoon, the deputy president was coming under increasing scrutiny over the possible terms of Zuma’s likely exit from the presidency.
Opposition leaders have denounced unconfirmed reports that Zuma has asked for concessions, saying he should be tried if corruption charges are brought against him and go to jail if found guilty.
Zuma, who denies wrongdoing, has been discredited by a series of scandals. South Africa’s top court ruled that he violated the constitution following an investigation of multi-million-dollar upgrades to his private home that were paid by the state; a judicial commission is about to start a probe of alleged looting of state enterprises by Zuma’s associates; and prosecutors are expected to announce soon whether they will reinstate corruption charges tied to an arms deal two decades ago.
At its meeting on Monday, the national executive committee of the ruling African National Congress could call for the president’s resignation in the same way that it forced the resignation of President Thabo Mbeki a decade ago, setting the stage for Zuma’s ascent to the presidency in 2009.
The committee can launch disciplinary proceedings against any member suspected of misconduct, whose broad definitions include “creating division” within the ruling African National Congress party and any “act with undermines the ANC’s effectiveness as an organization,” according to party rules.
But if Zuma is simply asked to resign and refuses to do so, the matter would likely end up in parliament for a possible motion of no confidence or even impeachment proceedings highlighting disarray in the ruling party, which has led South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. An opposition-sponsored motion of no confidence has been scheduled for Feb. 22.
If the motion were held and a majority of legislators voted against Zuma, the entire Cabinet would also have to resign, dashing Ramaphosa’s hopes of a carefully managed transition. Impeachment would be more difficult, requiring approval from two-thirds of parliament’s members.
Ramaphosa said Sunday that he recognized South Africans want a resolution to the leadership crisis and that the ruling party committee would provide it. He called off a similar committee meeting last week to concentrate on confidential talks with Zuma about a power transition.
Ramaphosa is poised to become acting president if Zuma leaves office, and likely would be elected president in a parliamentary vote that must happen no more than 30 days after Zuma’s exit. The period from then until national elections in 2019 would not count as a term; South African presidents can hold office for a maximum of two terms.
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Follow Christopher Torchia on Twitter at www.twitter.com/torchiachris
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