South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday faced increasing pressure from the ruling ANC party to resign, as the government struggled to resolve a leadership crisis that has dragged on since last week. Leaders of the African National Congress concluded that Zuma should quit during a marathon committee meeting that ended overnight, South African media reported. The ANC once commanded moral stature as the party of Nelson Mandela, but corruption scandals linked to Zuma have cut into its popularity ahead of national elections in 2019. Zuma has survived similar motions against him in the past, but many ruling party members now see him as a political liability and would likely vote against him. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Zuma’s expected successor, has held private talks with the president on a power transition, angering opposition parties who described the process as an affront to South African democracy.

Source: Egypt Independent February 13, 2018 08:03 UTC