Allies Call for Zuma to Step Down

Former high commissioners, ministers and many respected anti-apartheid activists also told the media that the ANC should do "the honorable thing and recall the president."

Congress of South African Trade Unions' (Cosatu) Secretary General Bheki Ntshalintshali is calling for South African President Jacob Zuma to step down. The trades union executive member said Zuma is no longer the "right person" to lead the country.

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The Cosatu is reportedly made up of 1.8 million members and is a key part of the governing alliance. It forms part of what is called the Tripartite Alliance along with the African National Congress (ANC) and the South African Communist Party (SACP). Ntshalintshali has managed to elicit the support of the anti-apartheid struggle veterans, who are urging the ANC to recall the president.

Pressure has been mounting against Zuma since his major cabinet reshuffle, which included the dismissal of highly respected Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa chimed in, calling the sacking of Gordhan "totally unacceptable." The changes made to the cabinet has put a strain on the economy, leading to the country's credit rating being cut to junk status by S&P Global. Former South African President Kgalema Motlanthe also added that it is difficult for Zuma to command respect after the constitutional court found him in breach of the law.

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Ntshalintshali told a media briefing that the union's decision was triggered by Zuma's failure to consult it before making changes to his cabinet. He termed the president's leadership as "inattentive, negligent... and disruptive." He added that the organization was not concerned about Gordhan's sacking because he was, like his predecessors, "not a friend of the workers." Ntshalintshali also criticized the ratings agency S&P's decision to downgrade South Africa to junk status, saying the union views it as political interference.

Former high commissioners, ministers and many respected anti-apartheid activists also told the media that the ANC should do "the honorable thing and recall the president", especially after the party's integrity commission advised that he should resign.

Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba has been working to reassure South Africans about the state of the economy. He told the media that the downgrade to junk status was a setback, but that people should not be despondent. "I'm not saying it's easy to get out of a rating downgrade, yet I remain confident," he added. Gigaba said he plans to meet with ratings agencies Fitch and Moody's.

Zuma is due to step down in 2019 at the end of his second five-year term as president.