The leader of the African National Congress (ANC), Cyril Ramaphosa has said that the fate of the president of South Africa Jacob Zuma will be known in the coming days.
Ramaphosa who is President Zuma’s deputy was expected to address the national assembly on Wednesday and update the lawmakers on the fate of Mr. Zuma.
The house speaker Baleka Mbete had suggested that South Africans would learn of Zuma’s fate within hours when she told eNCA TV that “In this day there will be some progress which the president of the ANC will be ready to come back to us about.”
But writing on twitter, Ramaphosa said he “began direct discussions on the transition and matters relating to his position as the President of the Republic. The discussions were constructive & lay the basis for a speedy resolution of the matter in the interests of the country & its people.”
Last night, President Zuma and I began direct discussions on the transition and matters relating to his position as the President of the Republic. The discussions were constructive & lay the basis for a speedy resolution of the matter in the interests of the country & its people.
— Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 7, 2018
On the basis of the progress made, it was agreed to postpone a special meeting of the #ANCNEC that had been scheduled for later today. This will enable President Zuma and myself to conclude our discussions and report back to our organisation and the country in the coming days.
— Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 7, 2018
Jacob Zuma would not be delivering a planned speech in parliament on the state of his country after the speaker of parliament, Baleka Mbete, announced the postponement of the address.
Mbete said on Tuesday that the president’s state of the nation address, which had been scheduled for Thursday, would now be rescheduled following a week of dramatic events within the ruling African National Congress (ANC).
Ramaphosa said “We will be able to communicate further on President Zuma’s position as President of the Republic once we have finalised all pertinent matters.”
I am aware that the uncertainty surrounding the position of the Head of State and Government is a cause for concern among many South Africans. This is understandable.
— Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 7, 2018
We will be able to communicate further on President Zuma’s position as President of the Republic once we have finalised all pertinent matters.
— Cyril Ramaphosa (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 7, 2018
There is pressure on Mr. Zuma to step down as President as he faces another no confidence vote in the South African parliament later this month.
On Sunday when leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) met him, Mr. Zuma is reported by local media to have said that the “people still love him”.
Mr. Zuma refused to stepdown in that meeting which necessitated another meeting among the leadership of the ANC on Monday to discuss his future.
The embattled president reportedly told party’s leaders that he had done nothing wrong and that only the national executive committee (NEC) had the powers to recall him of which he requested to make a presentation to.
Source: Africafeeds.com
