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South Africa’s ruling ANC suspends membership of ex-leader Zuma

South Africa’s ruling ANC suspends membership of ex-leader Zuma

SOUTH Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) said that it had suspended the membership of former president Jacob Zuma after he announced he would vote for another party in this year's general election. Zuma, whose nine years in office from 2009 were marked by corruption scandals and sluggish economic growth, said last month he would campaign for the new uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party in the vote, which is expected between May and August. His suspension reflects deep-seated divisions in the party of liberation hero Nelson Mandela that has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid. Analysts say this year's election…
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The two faces of Jacob Zuma – former South African president campaigns to unseat the ANC he once led. Who supports him and why?

The two faces of Jacob Zuma – former South African president campaigns to unseat the ANC he once led. Who supports him and why?

FORMER South African president Jacob Zuma’s political comeback builds on support from marginalised and angry constituencies within or close to the governing African National Congress (ANC). His vengeful but “loyal” rebellion against the ANC resonates with these political constituencies. SUSAN BOOYSEN, Visiting Professor and Professor Emeritus, University of the Witwatersrand In mid-December 2023, Zuma announced that he would be supporting the newly formed uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MK Party), rather than the ANC, in the upcoming national election. But he would not resign from the ANC. Umkhonto we Sizwe is the name of the ANC’s former guerrilla army. This latest assault…
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Zuma says he will not vote for ANC in South Africa’s election

Zuma says he will not vote for ANC in South Africa’s election

FORMER South African president Jacob Zuma said he will not campaign for the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party in the 2024 general election and will vote for a new party, a sign of growing divisions within the ANC ahead of the vote. Zuma, who said he remained an ANC member, has previously lashed out at his successor Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing him of failing as a leader and betraying the ANC with his stance against corruption. On Saturday Zuma repeated the accusations, and cited among other issues the expulsion from the party of its former secretary general after he was…
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South African court rules against ex-president Zuma in parole release finding

South African court rules against ex-president Zuma in parole release finding

SOUTH Africa's top court rejected an attempt to overturn a previous decision that found former president Jacob Zuma should go back to jail after being released early on medical parole. The Constitutional Court ruling could send Zuma back to prison, two years after his initial arrest sparked widespread protests that saw at least 337 people killed. The Department of Correctional Services said in a statement that it was studying the judgment and seeking legal advice before commenting. A spokesperson for Zuma declined to comment directly on the ruling and referred any questions to the department, noting that prison officials had sought the…
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UAE dismisses S.African request to extradite Gupta brothers

UAE dismisses S.African request to extradite Gupta brothers

A United Arab Emirates court has dismissed South Africa's request to extradite Atul and Rajesh Gupta, brothers who face charges of political corruption, but the Gulf state said that the extradition request could be resubmitted. The Guptas are accused of using their connections with Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa from 2009 to 2018, to win contracts, influence cabinet appointments and siphon off state funds. Zuma and the Guptas have denied all wrongdoing. The UAE said the extradition request did not meet the "strict standards for legal documentation" contained in an extradition treaty ratified with South Africa in April 2021,…
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How to impeach a president: Ramaphosa case puts new rules to the test in South Africa

How to impeach a president: Ramaphosa case puts new rules to the test in South Africa

SOUTH Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa faces possible impeachment in the country’s parliament over the illegal stashing of thousands of US dollars at his farm in 2020. This is not the first time there’s been a threat of impeachment of a president in post-democratic South Africa. His scandal-prone predecessor, Jacob Zuma, survived an impeachment vote in 2017 over the illegal use of public money to renovate his private residence. There is, however, a difference in the process being followed this time. It is the first since parliament adopted rules to guide the process for the impeachment of a president in 2018,…
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SA’s Ramaphosa outlines anti-graft plans after inquiry

SA’s Ramaphosa outlines anti-graft plans after inquiry

SOUTH Africa will overhaul its anti-corruption strategy and ensure the independence of prosecutors, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, responding to recommendations from a state inquiry into alleged corruption under his predecessor. A judicial commission of inquiry was established to examine allegations of high-level graft during former President Jacob Zuma's nine years in power from 2009 to 2018. "The people of South Africa are tired of corruption and want it to end," Ramaphosa said in a live television broadcast. "As a country, we are emerging from a dark and difficult period." The inquiry found Zuma had allowed businessmen close to him - brothers Atul,…
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South Africa’s Jacob Zuma is taking a top reporter to court. The verdict could affect journalists’ rights

South Africa’s Jacob Zuma is taking a top reporter to court. The verdict could affect journalists’ rights

SOUTH African journalism organisations this week rallied around well-known journalist Karyn Maughan when former president Jacob Zuma initiated a private prosecution against her. Zuma faces 16 counts of corruption for taking a monthly payment of US$34,000 from French arms firm Thales while he was deputy president from 1999 and later president from 2009 to 2018. Thales was involved in South Africa’s massive arms purchase deal during that period. Author ANTON HARBER, Caxton Professor of Journalism, University of the Witwatersrand Zuma had originally laid charges against the prosecutor in his corruption case, Billy Downer, for giving a medical certificate from the…
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South Africa’s Zuma granted further delay in corruption trial

South Africa’s Zuma granted further delay in corruption trial

 A South African court granted a further delay in former president Jacob Zuma's arms deal corruption trial, pending the outcome of his latest attempt to have the lead prosecutor taken off the long-running case. Zuma, ousted as head of state in 2018 after nine years in power, has pleaded not guilty to charges of corruption, money laundering and racketeering over a $2 billion arms deal in the 1990s. He alleges the lead prosecutor is biased against him, but the High Court and Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) have so far rejected his attempts to have the prosecutor replaced. Pietermaritzburg High…
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Arms Deal: Zuma  goes for private prosecution

Arms Deal: Zuma  goes for private prosecution

FORMER South African President Jacob Zuma is pursuing private prosecution proceedings to remove the lead prosecutor in an arms deal corruption trial after failed legal challenges, his foundation said on Sunday. Last month the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) torpedoed Zuma's latest bid to have lead prosecutor Billy Downer taken off the case after accusing him of bias and leaking confidential information to a journalist in contravention of the national prosecution act, among other complaints. The SCA dismissed the application for leave to appeal on the grounds that there is no reasonable prospect of success and there is no other…
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