Ruling party gives ultimatum to South African president

By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG (AA) - Ruling African National Congress (ANC) has given President Jacob Zuma 48 hours to resign from office, warning that if he fails to comply he would be forced out, according to state broadcaster SABC Tuesday.

The party’s national executive committee met Monday to discuss Zuma’s future in a meeting which lasted eight hours until the early of hours of Tuesday morning.

New ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa and Secretary General Ace Magashule traveled late Monday to deliver the party’s decision to Zuma at his residence in capital Pretoria.

Pressure has been piling on for Zuma to step down since his deputy Ramaphosa was elected party leader in December 2017.

Members of Zuma’s ANC have been calling for his resignation saying he has become a liability to the party and could cost them votes in the 2019 general election if he is not removed early from office.

Zuma faces 783 criminal charges, including money laundering, racketeering and fraud linked to a government arms deal procurement deal in 1999.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have been calling for a motion of no-confidence against the 75-year-old president, whose tenure in office has been marred by several allegations of corruption.

The ANC is expected to address the media later Tuesday. Spokesmen for both the presidency and the ANC remained unavailable for comment.