Mandela Foundation Stabs Zuma as Quit Pressure Peaks

The heat on President Jacob Zuma’s Presidency is getting fiercer. Already, ZUMA IS NOT RETIRING A HERO and there are indications are that he may not be allowed to retire properly.

Mandela Foundation Stabs Zuma as Quit Pressure Peaks

The heat on President Jacob Zuma’s Presidency is getting fiercer. Already, ZUMA IS NOT RETIRING A HERO and there are indications are that he may not be allowed to retire properly.

The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has been on the vanguard of Zuma’s premature ouster but now, the respectable Nelson Mandela Foundation has called Zuma to stand down.

The president, in power since 2009, is due to make a state of the nation address on Thursday, and some in the party want Mr Zuma to leave office ahead of that speech.

The odds against Zuma are tied around corruption. Mandela Foundation said there is “systematic looting” under Mr Zuma’s rule, and he “must go sooner rather than later”, the foundation said.

The governing ANC party has called a meeting of its top body for Wednesday to decide on Mr Zuma’s future.

The president has so far resisted calls to quit over corruption allegations.

Mr Zuma, 75, was replaced as party leader by his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, 65, in December.

Mr Ramaphosa is now the front runner to succeed him as president.

Mr Zuma had “abused the trust” of South Africans and “betrayed the country Nelson Mandela dreamed of”, the foundation, which is run by close colleagues of South Africa’s first black president, said.

“He must go because he has demonstrated that he is not fit to govern. We call on the state to hold him accountable for his actions. Some things cannot be pardoned,” it added in a statement.

BBC catalogued the allegations against Zuma as follow: 2005: Charged with corruption over multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal – charges dropped shortly before he becomes president in 2009

2016: Court orders he should be charged with 18 counts of corruption over the deal

2005: Charged with raping family friend – acquitted in 2006

2016: Court rules he breached his oath of office by using government money to upgrade private home in Nkandla – he has repaid the money

2017: South Africa’s public protector said he should appoint judge-led inquiry into allegations he profiteered from relationship with wealthy Gupta family – he denies allegations, as have the Guptas

2018: Zuma approves inquiry