South African President Jacob Zuma has gotten some reprieve after his party on Sunday said it had full confidence in him after a three-day party summit.
Pressure on Zuma intensified following claims by the deputy finance minister that he was offered the Finance Minister job by the wealthy Gupta family shortly before the dismissal of respected Nhlanhla Nene.
The allegations kept coming, with former cabinet spokesman Themba Maseko alleging that the president had asked him in 2010 via a phone call to meet the Gupta’s at their home in Johannesburg to “please help them”.
The Gupta’s are a wealthy family of Indian-born businessmen who relocated to South Africa in the 1990’s.
The allegations have reinforced concerns over governance and stability in Africa’s most industrialised country. The opposition has called on Zuma to resign.
Gwede Mantashe, secretary general of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), said the party’s National Executive Committee held “frank and robust discussions” over claims the Guptas had influenced the appointment of ministers and deputies.
