S/African ruling party in crisis talks over Zuma scandal

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) party held crisis talks on Monday to discuss the fallout from a court ruling last week that President Jacob Zuma flouted the Constitution, triggering calls for him to resign.
The ANC backed Zuma, 73, after the Constitutional Court rebuked him for ignoring Public Protector Thuli Madonsela’s order that he pay back some of the $16 million spent on upgrading his private Nkandla home.
But the scandal, one of several which have dogged Zuma over the past decade, could strain relations between the ANC and its allies the South African Communist Party (SACP) and labor federation COSATU, which have helped it to retain power since the fall of apartheid in 1994.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s Defence Minister has warned a union official representing soldiers that he risks being charged after he called for the removal of President Jacob Zuma from office.
“If he is mobilising men and women in unform, what it actually amounts to is a coup d’etat. He should be charged,” said Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula.