{"id":461444,"date":"2018-02-05T08:56:39","date_gmt":"2018-02-05T08:56:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ghana-mma.com\/2018\/02\/05\/jacob-zuma-pressure-grows-on-south-africa-president-to-stand-down\/"},"modified":"2018-02-05T08:56:39","modified_gmt":"2018-02-05T08:56:39","slug":"jacob-zuma-pressure-grows-on-south-africa-president-to-stand-down","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2018\/02\/05\/jacob-zuma-pressure-grows-on-south-africa-president-to-stand-down\/","title":{"rendered":"Jacob Zuma: Pressure grows on South Africa president to stand down"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"Renault\"\/<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

South African President Jacob Zuma is under growing pressure to step down following talks with senior members of his ANC party on Sunday.<\/p>\n

Details of the talks were not revealed but party leaders are to hold an emergency meeting on Monday.<\/p>\n

Mr Zuma, who faces corruption allegations, was replaced as ANC leader by Cyril Ramaphosa in December.<\/p>\n

Analysts say party chiefs want to avoid a power struggle that could split the ANC before elections next year.<\/p>\n

They are expected to begin the process to remove President Zuma through a formal recall or by introducing a motion in parliament.<\/p>\n

The six most senior figures of the governing ANC party arrived one by one on Sunday at President Zuma\u2019s residence in Pretoria.<\/p>\n

They remained tight-lipped as the talks ended but have called a meeting of the party\u2019s national working committee for Monday.<\/p>\n

Julius Malema, an opposition leader and former ANC member, said on Twitter that Mr Zuma had refused to stand down.<\/p>\n

Mr Zuma is not due to leave office until the 2019 elections. However, the ANC has seen its popularity fall during his second term amid a weakening economy and claims of corruption.<\/p>\n

The president faces numerous allegations of corruption relating to his relationship with businessman Shabir Shaik who was tried and found guilty in 2005 of soliciting bribes from a French arms company.<\/p>\n

Mr Zuma and other government officials were accused of taking kickbacks from the purchase of fighter jets, patrol boats and other arms.<\/p>\n

Charges were first brought against Mr Zuma in 2005 but dropped by prosecutors in 2009.<\/p>\n

Last year, the High Court ruled in a case brought by the opposition Democratic Alliance that he should face the charges.<\/p>\n

Mr Zuma lodged a challenge with the Supreme Court of Appeal but it ruled he should face the charges. He has consistently denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n

Mr Ramaphosa, who as the ANC\u2019s new leader is in a strong position to win the 2019 elections, has called for party unity.<\/p>\n

But correspondents say fears are growing that he and his allies in the ANC may move against Mr Zuma if he refuses to stand aside.<\/p>\n

Source: BBC<\/strong><\/p>\n

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