Mandela ally throws his weight behind calls for scandal-hit Zuma to quit

An anti-apartheid activist jailed alongside Nelson Mandela called on scandal-plagued Jacob Zuma to step down as South Africa president. Ahmed Kathrada, one of eight prominent activists detained in the 1960s, said his resignation would give the country’s government the chance to recover from “a crisis of confidence”. In a letter published on Saturday, Mr Kathrada wrote: "In the face of such persistently widespread criticism, condemnation and demand, is it asking too much to express the hope that you will choose the correct way that is gaining momentum, to consider stepping down?“ The influential 86-year-old’s intervention is widely seen as the most likely to prod the Mr Zuma’s ruling ANC party into action against him.

I am not a political analyst, but I am now driven to ask: “Dear Comrade President, don’t you think your continued stay as President will only serve to deepen the crisis of confidence in the government of the country?”

Ahmed Kathrada letter

His call comes two days after Mr Zuma was found to have broken the country’s constitution by spending $16 million of public money on improvements to his country home. Opposition parties have been calling for the 73-year-old leader to resign and have launched impeachment proceedings against him. In a televised address on Friday night, Mr Zuma apologised and said he would pay back some of the money. "Any action that has been found not to be in keeping with the constitution happened because of a different approach and different legal advice,” he added.

The president is misleading South Africa. He said repeatedly he always wanted to pay: He never wanted to pay

Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane.

jacob zuma