President Jacob Zuma's Fate Hangs in the Balance Brief: Friday February 9 2018

Cape Town , South Africa

President Zuma expected to leave office within days

Parliamentarians from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party have intimated that President Zuma is expected to leave office within days. President Jacob Zuma had earlier refused calls by the Africa National Congress to resign before his term ends in 2019. Top officials from the ANC met with the president late on Sunday to pressure him to step down. The president had also been adamant that he will deliver his State of the Nation address (Sona) on Thursday before it was canceled by parliamentary officials.

The president has been negotiating terms of his departure with Cyril Ramaphosa, the new leader of the ANC.Ramaphosa, who on Thursday briefed parliamentarians, said that he hoped to conclude talks with the president over a transition of power “in coming days ... in the interests of the country”.

Cyril Ramaphosa, president of Africa National Congress

He also said that he wanted the president to have a “dignified” exit and that he has ruled out any formal amnesty or impunity.

The Democratic Alliance, (DA) an opposition party, issued a statement condemning such a move. The statement read, “It is incomprehensible that immunity would even be considered given the devastating impact Zuma’s presidency has had on the country. It also shows that the ANC under Ramaphosa is the very same ANC it was under Zuma.”

Democratic Alliance members marching in downtown Johannesburg South Africa

Zuma, who is battling corruption allegations, has been in a weakened position since he was replaced as leader of the ANC in December by Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president.
The South Africa Supreme Court of Appeal upheld a High Court ruling in October last year to reinstate nearly 800 corruption charges filed against Jacob Zuma before he became president.

Mr. Zuma is deeply unpopular with many South Africans after serving eight years as the nation's President.

The president is facing a no confidence motion in parliament set for February 22. Zuma has survived several attempts to oust him in the past. This time, a significant part of the ANC wants him to step down well before his second term ends by mid-2019.
Zuma has been deserted by several prominent allies in the ANC ever since Cyril Ramaphosa became leader of what is the only party to govern South Africa since the end of apartheid.
Ramaphosa, who is in a strong position to become the next president of South Africa, has been lobbying for Zuma’s removal.