Zuma to quit ANC post

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s former deputy president Jacob Zuma, facing rape accusations, is likely to step down as number two in the ruling African National Congress (ANC), Business Day financial daily reported yesterday.

Business Day quoted unnamed Zuma insiders as saying they believed South Africa’s National Prosecution Authority (NPA) would charge Zuma by the end of the week. He denies the allegations.This would leave Zuma, who was sacked in June and also faces a corruption trial, no option but to quit his ANC post, the newspaper said.Zuma or the NPA were not immediately available for comment.The ANC, which has been divided since President Thabo Mbeki sacked his popular deputy, said earlier this month that Zuma had confirmed he was facing rape allegations.The ANC has acknowledged that the Zuma controversy is threatening its unity.Even though the corruption scandal forced him out of office, he has strong grassroots support and many of his supporters believe he will still be South Africa’s next president.A revolt by grassroots party members in July forced the ANC to reverse an earlier decision to relieve Zuma of his party leadership position.Police have so far refused to confirm whether they are investigating the allegations, first reported by a Sunday newspaper this month, that he sexually assaulted a female guest at his Johannesburg home.Business Day said Zuma and his top aides were considering a number of options, including taking a leave of absence from his ANC duties or quitting his post, to manage the fallout from a possible criminal charge.Zuma’s lawyer said on Monday he would be releasing a statement soon.- Nampa-ReutersHe denies the allegations.This would leave Zuma, who was sacked in June and also faces a corruption trial, no option but to quit his ANC post, the newspaper said.Zuma or the NPA were not immediately available for comment.The ANC, which has been divided since President Thabo Mbeki sacked his popular deputy, said earlier this month that Zuma had confirmed he was facing rape allegations.The ANC has acknowledged that the Zuma controversy is threatening its unity.Even though the corruption scandal forced him out of office, he has strong grassroots support and many of his supporters believe he will still be South Africa’s next president.A revolt by grassroots party members in July forced the ANC to reverse an earlier decision to relieve Zuma of his party leadership position.Police have so far refused to confirm whether they are investigating the allegations, first reported by a Sunday newspaper this month, that he sexually assaulted a female guest at his Johannesburg home.Business Day said Zuma and his top aides were considering a number of options, including taking a leave of absence from his ANC duties or quitting his post, to manage the fallout from a possible criminal charge.Zuma’s lawyer said on Monday he would be releasing a statement soon.- Nampa-Reuters