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Tag: Cyril Ramaphosa

  • $2.5 bn arms deal: ‘I am innocent,’ Zuma tells cheering crowd

    Former South African president Jacob Zuma told thousands of supporters outside court in Durban on Friday that his opponents were telling lies and he would be proven innocent in a corruption case against him.

    Speaking in Zulu in his home province, Zuma said that the judiciary and politicians believed that he did not have rights.

    “The truth will come out. What have I done?” Zuma told the cheering crowd.

    “I am innocent until proven guilty.”

    The Durban High Court adjourned until June 8 the case of corruption in a 2.5 billion arms deal dollars, filed against Zuma.

    Zuma’s legal team and lawyers for the state agreed to the postponement to give both sides time to prepare their submissions relating to charges against Zuma including fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

    The 75-year-old, whose scandal-plagued nine years in office were marked by economic stagnation and credit downgrades, faces 16 charges including fraud, racketeering and money laundering.

    Zuma denies any wrongdoing and is challenging the decision to prosecute the case, a dramatic development on a continent where political leaders are rarely held to account for their actions before the law.

    Wearing a dark suit, a smiling Zuma waved to crowds of supporters and reporters as he mounted the steps of the High Court in Durban shortly before 0700 GMT.

    The speed with which prosecutors have booked his day in court is a sign of the loss of control Zuma has suffered since his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, became head of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in December.

    Read Also: Zuma to appear in court April 6

    However, Zuma still retains some popular support, especially in his home province of KwaZulu-Natal, where the case is being heard.

    Heavily armed police in riot gear lined the square outside the court, as thousands of Zuma supporters gathered to express solidarity with a leader they say is the victim of a politically motivated witch-hunt.

    Marchers, many clad in the distinctive yellow, green and black of the ANC, carried placards reading “Hands off Zuma” and performed the high-stepping toyi-toyi protest dance made popular in South Africa’s decades-long struggle against apartheid.

    Businessman Siya Khoza said he admired Zuma’s determination to bring in economic policies that he said were designed to spread the wealth in what remains one of the world’s most unequal societies.

    “Whatever happens we will still support Zuma because we believe he brought us radical economic transformation and we still believe that him being in the ANC he will push for it,” said Khoza, wearing a waistcoat emblazoned in ANC colors.

    Zuma’ son Edward told supporters at nearby park where several thousand people held an overnight vigil that his father was not worried.

    “I would want to believe that as an innocent man, he is definitely not worried,” the domestic News24 agency quoted Edward Zuma as saying.

    Zuma, who was forced to resign by the ANC last month, was at the center of a 1990s deal to buy billions of dollars of European military hardware to upgrade South Africa’s post-apartheid armed forces.

    The deal was mired in scandal and controversy from the start, with many inside and outside the ANC questioning the spending given the massive social issues, from health to education, Nelson Mandela’s party had to address after coming to power in 1994.

    Fallout has cast a shadow over South African politics ever since.

    Zuma was deputy president at the time. Schabir Shaikh, his former financial adviser, was found guilty and jailed in 2005 for trying to solicit bribes for Zuma from a subsidiary of French arms company Thales.

    The company is facing charges in the same case.

    Charges against Zuma were filed but then set aside by the National Prosecuting Authority shortly before he successfully ran for president in 2009.

    The charges were re-instated in 2016.

    Since his election nine years ago, his opponents have fought a lengthy legal battle to have the charges reinstated.

    Zuma countered with his own legal challenges.

    NAN

  • S. Africa court finds finance minister violated constitution

    S. Africa court finds finance minister violated constitution

    A South African court held that Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba violated the constitution in statements he made about his decision to revoke his approval of a company’s bid to open a private airport immigration facility.

    The judgment is the latest legal blow to a senior South African government official and came with new President Cyril Ramaphosa considering a cabinet reshuffle after replacing scandal-plagued predecessor Jacob Zuma on Feb. 14.

    Handed down in December, the judgment only came to public light on Tuesday.

    Gigaba, whose job security under Ramaphosa is unclear, said he would challenge the decision.

    The judgment was issued after an application by Fireblade Aviation, a company owned by the wealthy Oppenheimer family, seeking to compel Gigaba to stick to his decision while home affairs minister to allow the firm to operate an immigration service for wealthy VIPs at Johannesburg’s main airport.

    Read Also:  Court jails man 60 years for child defilement

    The court ruling reversed Gigaba’s decision to revoke his approval, saying that the minister had lied in having “denied ever having approved the application”.

    “By telling a deliberate untruth on facts central to the decision of this case, the minister has committed a breach of the constitution so serious that I would characterise it as a violation,” the ruling read.

    Speaking to the media in Cape Town ahead of his budget speech to parliament, Gigaba said: “My lawyers are studying the judgment and we will respond to it in due time.

    “It’s important to highlight that the decision of the court is being challenged.”

    The Democratic Alliance, the official opposition party, said that based on the judgment, it had filed a complaint against Gigaba with the Public Protector, South Africa’s constitutionally-mandated anti-graft watchdog.

    NAN

     

  • South Africa to raise VAT for first time in 25 years

    South Africa to raise VAT for first time in 25 years

    South Africa will increase value added tax ( VAT ) for the first time in over two decades, the Treasury said on Wednesday.

    The Finance Minister, Malusi Gigaba, said while presenting the budget plan before parliament that VAT would increase to 15 per cent from 14 per cent effective April 1.

    VAT had remained unchanged since 1993.

    “This is a tough, but hopeful budget,” Gigaba said.

    “We decided that increasing VAT was unavoidable if we are to maintain the integrity of our public finances.”

    A VAT hike ran the risk of adding a heavy financial burden on the poor, but Gigaba said poor households would be cushioned through a zero-rating of basic food items such as maize meal and beans.

    The Treasury said the budget deficit was seen narrowing to 3.5 per cent of gross domestic product ( GDP ) by 2020 from 4.3 per cent in the 2017/18 fiscal year.

    Expert said the increase was President Cyril Ramaphosa’s government aim to cut the budget deficit and stabilise debt after years of slow economic growth.

    Ramaphosa took over as leader of South Africa last week after Jacob Zuma stepped down on orders of the ruling African National Congress, bringing to an end nine years of corruption scandals and economic mismanagement.

    Zuma has denied all wrongdoing.

    The rand extended gains to 0.81 per cent against the dollar, government bonds firmed, while retail shares on the stock exchange due to the new three years budget outlay.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Ramaphosa says it’s time to review cabinet make up

    Ramaphosa says it’s time to review cabinet make up

    President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa said on Tuesday it was time to consider the make-up of his cabinet, amid growing speculation about whether Finance Minister Gigaba would keep his job.

    Ramaphosa was sworn in as head of state on Thursday after his scandal-plagued predecessor, Jacob Zuma, reluctantly resigned on orders of the ruling African National Congress ( ANC ) after nine years in office blighted by corruption, economic mismanagement and disputed appointments.

    In his first state of nation address on Friday, Ramaphosa strongly hinted at a cabinet shake-up when he said he would review the make-up and size of government departments.

    Investors are watching closely to see if Gigaba, who is due to deliver the budget speech on Wednesday, keeps his job.

    “This is the time to walk, to reflect even about cabinet and all that,” he told reporters on television news channel eNCA during his walk, in response to a question on whether there was still time to shake up his cabinet ahead of the budget speech.

    “I’ll be walking maybe three times a week, walking with our people,” he said. “I want my tummy to fall, so I‘m going to continue walking.”

    At a separate event in Cape Town, Gigaba declined to comment when asked by reporters about the speculation over his job.

    However, his deputy Sfiso Buthelezi, who sat next to his boss, said Gigaba would deliver the budget on Wednesday.

    “The question that is being asked of the minister, if he is going to present the budget. That is why we are here.

    “There is a budget that is going to be presented tomorrow and it is going to be presented by nobody else but Malusi Gigaba,” Buthelezi said.

    On Friday, Ramaphosa delivered a message of optimism and renewal Friday in his first state of the nation address, saying it’s time for South Africans to put discord behind them and that the country will “turn the tide” on corruption in state institutions this year.

    Ramaphosa’s address capped a dramatic week in which he was elected by ruling party lawmakers following the resignation of predecessor Jacob Zuma, whose tenure was marked by corruption scandals.

    Zuma was supposed to give the speech on Thursday, but it was postponed because of the leadership crisis that fueled uncertainty and anxiety in the country of 57 million people.

    “We should put behind us the era of diminishing trust in public institutions and weakened confidence in our country’s public leaders,” said Ramaphosa, who was Zuma’s deputy before becoming South Africa’s fifth president since the end of white minority rule in 1994.

    “A new dawn is upon us,” he said in a speech in parliament that drew applause but was criticized by the opposition as short on meaningful solutions.

    Ramaphosa, 65, faces the hard task of rooting out corruption that flourished in both state enterprises and the private sector under Zuma, implicating figures in the ruling African National Congress party that he now leads.
    In addition, he must tackle sluggish economic growth, high unemployment and economic inequality that are among South Africa’s most deep-rooted problems.

    The new president said his administration would concentrate on creating jobs and attracting investment, while also possibly downsizing bloated government departments and restructuring state-owned enterprises that are inefficient and prone to corruption.

    “This is the year in which we will turn the tide on corruption in our public institutions.

    “The criminal justice institutions have been taking initiatives that will enable us to deal effectively with corruption,” Ramaphosa said.

    South African authorities want to arrest a key member of the Gupta business family accused of using its links to Zuma to influence Cabinet ministers and secure state contracts.

    The suspect, Ajay Gupta, is considered a fugitive after failing to turn himself in, according to police.

    Eight people, including a member of the Gupta family, have already been arrested as part of an investigation into alleged corruption involving the Guptas, who deny any wrongdoing.

    The family is a flashpoint for national anger over “state capture,” the term used by South Africans to describe an allegedly wide-ranging effort to loot state enterprises under Zuma.

    Ramaphosa said he supports the work of a judicial commission that is about to investigate the phenomenon, but one opposition leader said the new president would have to turn on his own political party if he is serious about fighting graft.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Buhari congratulates President Ramaphosa

    Buhari congratulates President Ramaphosa

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa on his election on Thursday as the President of the Republic of South Africa.

    The President also felicitated with the African National Congress (ANC)), and the Government and people of South Africa, on the peaceful transfer of power that resulted in the election of President Ramaphosa.

    Read Also: SGF: Buhari’ll run in 2019

    The Nigerian leader, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, also saluted the leadership and sta Buhari tesmanship of former President Jacob Zuma, and wishes him the best in his future endeavours.

    President Buhari looked forward to working with the new President of South Africa, and to enhanced cooperation of the Governments of Africa’s two leading economies.

  • South African stocks in demand after Zuma quits, rand soars

    South African stocks in demand after Zuma quits, rand soars

    South African stocks index rose as much as five per cent on Thursday, putting the main index on track for its biggest one-day gain in more than three years.

    The currency remained on the front foot, soaring to its firmest since early 2015, in the wake of Zuma’s exit.

    Analysts have, however, warned the rally faces serious obstacles ahead of a budget speech next Wednesday.

    Zuma quit late on Wednesday, reluctantly heeding orders by the ruling African National Congress ( ANC ) to bring an end to a nine-year tenure punctuated by scandals, stagnant economic growth and policy uncertainty.

    As at 1530 GMT, the blue chip Top-40 index surged four per cent to 52,665 points, pulling back from a high of 53,072 achieved earlier but still on course for its biggest one-day gain since Sept. 2015.

    The broader All-share index was up by 3.72 per cent at 59,533 points.

    “The big news is that Zuma has now resigned and that has created a lot of euphoria.

    “South African incorporated, banks, retailers and the like are all looking sharply better as a result,” said Independent Securities’ trader Ryan Woods.

    South African banks considered the barometer of both economic and political sentiment were a feature on the gainers’ list.

    The banking index surged 5.8 per cent with Nedbank rising 5.37 per cent and rival FirstRand up 6.4 per cent.

    Banks have largely borne the brunt of Zuma’s policy decisions that included the sacking of two respected finance ministers, Nhlanhla Nene and Pravin Gordhan.

    That, along with a weak economy, contributed to sovereign credit ratings downgrades to junk by S&P Global Ratings and Fitch.

    In reaction to Zuma’s resignation, ratings agency Moody’s said it was focused on the new leadership’s response to economic challenges. S&P Global Ratings said the leadership change would not immediately affect the credit status.

    Cyril Ramaphosa, former chairman of African biggest telecoms operator MTN Group, was sworn in as president on Thursday.

    Ramaphosa, who has vowed to fight corruption and revitalise the economy, is seen by business leaders and investors as well placed to turn around the economy.

    South Africa’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is estimated to grow by less than one percent this year.

    Another key issue facing the 65-year-old president is policy uncertainty in South Africa’s mining industry, an important economic engine, which has been fighting in court with Zuma’s mines minister, Mosebenzi Zwane, over an increase in black ownership targets.

    But some analysts said that the former union leader’s to-do list is way too long to make an immediate impact.

    In the foreign exchange market, the rand advanced to levels last seen in February 2015.

    “The good gains the rand has made could be extended toward 11.55/dollar, and move toward 11.00/dollar baring any further credit rating downgrades for S.A. and a credit positive budget,” said Investec’s Chief Analyst Annabel Bishop in a note.

    At 1515 GMT, the rand was at 11.6600 against the dollar, having reached a session-best of 11.6025 earlier per cent stronger than its New York overnight close and at levels last seen in Feb.  2015.

    “The economy is coming off an extremely low base so there is good chance the optimism will be around for some time, but Ramaphosa has to very soon move from the honeymoon phase to the doing phase,” said Chief Executive of Canon Assets Management Adrian Saville.

    Reuters/NAN

  • Breaking: Ramaphosa emerges South Africa President

    Breaking: Ramaphosa emerges South Africa President

    Cyril Ramaphosa has emerged as President of South Africa, following elections by lawmakers on Thursday.

    This is following the resignation of Jacob Zuma from office of Wednesday.

    According to Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng,  Ramaphosa was elected without a vote after being the only candidate nominated in the parliament in Cape Town.

     

    Details Later

     

  • Zuma refuses to resign, says he is being victimised

    Zuma refuses to resign, says he is being victimised

    Jacob Zuma has refused to heed calls to step down as South African president, denouncing moves by the ruling African Nation Congress ( ANC ) party to remove him following a string of damaging corruption scandals.

    The ANC formally asked him to resign on Tuesday.

    “I am being victimised here. I think there has been a misinterpretation,” Zuma said in an attempt to present his side of the story.

    Zuma however indicated he would accept the outcome of a parliamentary vote of no confidence against him, which has been scheduled for Thursday.

    During more than a week of negotiations with the ANC’s key decision-making body, Zuma said that “nobody provided the reasons, nobody has been able to provide me with what I have done.”

    Zuma denied any wrongdoing over the corruption allegations of recent years. “There is no problem. There has never been a problem,” he said in the televised remarks.

    The ANC “will regret the crisis they have caused,” he said, adding he wsa planning to make a formal statement on the calls for his resignation later on Wednesday.

    During the negotiations with the ANC leadership, Zuma said he had in principle agreed to step down but presented “a package” of demands that included him staying in power for several more months.

    The ANC didn’t accept those conditions, said Zuma.

    “I am open to further discussion, but they are rushing [into a vote of no confidence],” he said, adding that he was unjustly “portrayed as this person who is defying the leadership.”

    If Zuma loses the vote, parliament may elect a successor the same day, according to ANC treasurer general Paul Mashatile.

    “We will possibly elect a new president on Thursday … if not Friday,” said Mashatile, assuming scandal-hit Zuma will lose the vote.

    Zuma’s successor would most likely be Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, who in December took over from Zuma as president of the ANC.

    Zuma, who became president in 2009 and whose second term officially ends in 2019, has already faced six no-confidence motions, four of which were voted on.

    This time, the vote is likely to succeed because the ANC holds a large majority of seats in parliament, and the vote of no confidence is decided by a simple majority.

    If Zuma loses the vote, South Africa’s chief justice will preside over the election of a new president, while the cabinet will have to resign.

    The ANC caucus in parliament decided to hasten the vote, which had been initially requested by opposition party Economic Freedom Fighters for February 22.

    “We want certainty.

    “We would like the incoming president [to hold the postponed State of the Nation address] without delay,” he said.

    Earlier on Wednesday, police arrested three people from the Johannesburg home of the Gupta family, linked to the corruption scandals that have engulfed Zuma.

    Hangwani Mulaudzi, the spokesman of the elite crime investigation unit the Hawks, confirmed the arrests to dpa, without disclosing the identity of those arrested.

    Arrest warrants had been issued for two other people who were expected to hand themselves over to the police, Mulaudzi said.

    Media reports said those arrested are expected to appear before a commercial crimes court in the city of Bloemfontein later on Wednesday.

    The influential Gupta family, which has business interests in the computer equipment, mining, air travel, energy, technology and media industries, have been accused of influencing the state together with Zuma through lucrative business deals and possibly even influencing ministerial appointments.

    Most recently, the family came under fire when one of their companies took over the management of a small-scale dairy farm, which shortly thereafter received a payment of 34 million rands (2.85 million dollars) from the provincial agriculture department.

    A high court in January ordered the freezing of all assets linked to the farm.

    Zuma and the three Gupta brothers he is mainly linked to – Ajay, Atul and Rajesh – deny any wrongdoing.

    Opposition party Democratic Alliance ( DA ) meanwhile demanded that the police extend their raid on the Gupta family to include government ministers linked to the corruption allegations.

    “The investigations and action simply cannot end [with the Guptas] and must continue to all those implicated, including key ministers,” DA member Zakhele Mbehle said in a statement.

    Mbehle demanded investigations into four ministers as well as ANC secretary general Ace Magushule.

    NAN

  • Zuma slams moves to force him out as ‘very unfair’

    Zuma slams moves to force him out as ‘very unfair’

    Zuma said in his first public remarks, a day after the ANC formally asked him to resign.

    During more than a week of negotiations with the ANC’s key decision-making body, Zuma said that “nobody provided the reasons, nobody has been able to provide me with what I have done.”

    The ANC had urged Zuma to resign due to a string of corruption allegations.

    Zuma denied any wrongdoing on Wednesday.

    “There is no problem. There has never been a problem,” he said in the televised remarks.

    Earlier in the day police had raided the home of a business family linked to the embattled leader.

    Zuma says the ruling ANC has not followed party procedures in trying to unseat him.

    Read Also:  Zuma to face no-confidence vote on Thursday – ANC

    The ANC wants parliament to vote on Thursday on a motion of no confidence if he does not resign on Wednesday.

    “I need to be furnished on what I’ve done,” Mr Zuma says. “What is this hurry?”
    Agents from the Hawks, an elite police investigative unit, earlier entered the compound of the Gupta family in an affluent neighbourhood of Johannesburg.

    Three people were arrested in operations at various addresses, the South African Broadcasting Corporation reported.

    The family is suspected of using its connections to the president to influence Cabinet appointments and win state contracts, and has been a flashpoint for national anger over corruption in state enterprises during Mr Zuma’s tenure.

    Both the Guptas and Mr Zuma say they have done nothing wrong.

    ANC Secretary-General Ace Magashule makes a statement after the ruling party said scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma must leave office .

    Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa is poised to replace Mr Zuma, who could face a motion of no confidence in parliament if he defies his party’s order to step down.

    Deputy President and ANC party president Cyril Ramaphosa is expected to take over from Jacob Zuma .

    As the Gupta-linked investigation proceeds, Mr Zuma could face corruption charges tied to an arms deal two decades ago.

    South Africa’s chief prosecutor is expected to make a decision on whether to prosecute Mr Zuma on the old charges, which were reinstated in 2017 after being thrown out in 2009.

    In another scandal, South Africa’s top court ruled in 2016 that Mr Zuma violated the constitution following an investigation of multimillion-dollar upgrades to his private home using state funds.

    The president paid back some of the money.

    NAN

  • Zuma ‘rejects ANC request’ to stand down

    Zuma ‘rejects ANC request’ to stand down

    South Africa’s President, Jacob Zuma has defied his party and refused to step down, according to media reports.

    He and senior members of the African National Congress (ANC) held talks on Sunday but no details of their meeting have been released.

    Facing corruption allegations, Mr Zuma was replaced as ANC leader in December.

    Read Also: Zuma  again denounces ‘monopoly’ white economic power

    Party leaders, who may be trying to oust the South African Head of State before his State of the Nation address later this week, will hold an emergency meeting on Monday.

    Julius Malema, an opposition leader and former ANC member, said on Twitter that Mr Zuma had been asked to stand down but had refused.

    He was regarded to have spent time in prison for his part in the fight against apartheid, most of the way through his second – and last – term as president.

    Under his rule, the civil service has expanded, HIV/AIDS rates have decreased, and his plans for development have won support across the political spectrum. But the Zuma presidency has been overshadowed by allegations of corruption and his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, was elected the leader of the ANC party in South Africa in December on an anti-corruption platform.

    BBC