JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The Latest on South Africa’s leadership crisis (all times local):
1:05 p.m.
South Africa’s ruling party says parliament could elect a new president on Thursday if President Jacob Zuma leaves office.
Jackson Mthembu, a senior official in the African National Congress, says the party wants to resolve the country’s leadership turmoil as soon as possible.
Mthembu says that under an accelerated timeline, parliament would vote to remove Zuma from office on Thursday unless he resigns before then, and that lawmakers would elect a new president immediately after the vote.
The ruling party wants Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to take over from Zuma, who has not responded to an ANC order to quit.
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12:50 p.m.
South Africa’s ruling party says it is preparing for a parliamentary motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma on Thursday.
Paul Mashatile, a senior official in the African National Congress, says the aim of the vote is to remove Zuma so that Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa can take over.
Mashatile says Zuma faces a deadline Wednesday to respond to a ruling party order to leave office.
“We can no longer keep South Africa waiting,” Mashatile says.
Zuma has been discredited by corruption scandals. Police have raided the home of a prominent business family with links to the president.
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8:30 a.m.
South African police have raided the residential compound of a business family suspected of using its ties to President Jacob Zuma to influence Cabinet appointments and land state contracts.
Agents from the Hawks, an elite police investigative unit, on Wednesday entered the compound of the Gupta family in Saxonwold, an affluent neighborhood in Johannesburg.
The raid happened as the ruling African National Congress Party awaited a response from Zuma after instructing him on Tuesday to quit office because of a series of scandals.
The Gupta business family has been a flashpoint for national anger over corruption in state enterprises during Zuma’s tenure. A judicial commission is preparing to investigate the alleged graft.
Zuma and the Guptas deny wrongdoing.
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