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S.Africa’s Zuma to make TV address
Johannesburg, South Africa | AFP | South African President Jacob Zuma will make a TV address to the nation at 2000 GMT Wednesday, an official statement said, after he earlier spoke out against an order from his own party to resign.
Zuma, whose reputation has been stained by years-long allegations of graft, was due to make his address from the Union Buildings in Pretoria, the seat of the presidency.
The speech will cap a dramatic day in which it was announced that South Africa’s parliament will hold a motion of no-confidence in Zuma on Thursday. Soon after Zuma went onto SABC TV to defend himself. (Live video below)
“We have now asked the chief whip to proceed with the motion of no confidence tomorrow in parliament… so that President Zuma is then removed,” ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile told reporters Wednesday.
He said parliament, where the ANC has a large majority, would then “proceed to elect (Cyril) Ramaphosa as president of the republic.”
Zuma was expected to respond later on Wednesday to the ANC’s order for him to resign.
“For us, as the ANC leadership, we can no longer wait beyond today,” Mashatile said.
“We don’t want to keep South Africa waiting. If President Zuma at some point will respond he will respond, but we can’t continue waiting. The decision has been taken and must be implemented.”
The power struggle over Zuma’s departure has put him at loggerheads with deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa, his expected successor, who is the new head of the ANC.
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— The Independent (@UGIndependent) February 12, 2018
