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SO8TH $)RI&$ - -acob Zuma is meeting cabinet ministers in &ape Town, as pressure mounts on the embattled South $frican president to resign before a key national address this week. $ presidential spokesman denied domestic media reports that the ministers had been summoned especially, instead describing the meeting as “routine”. Senior leaders of the ruling $frican 1ational &ongress $1& met Zuma over the weekend to ask him to step down. /ocal media reported that the 75-year-old president, who is battling corruption allegations, refused. The party’s national working committee, one of its highest decision-making bodies, met on 0onday in -ohannesburg. $fter seven hours of talks, it issued a statement saying the $1&’s national executive committee 1(& , a larger and more senior body, would meet on :ednesday to consider its next step.

One possibility is that Zuma will be ordered to resign, though this may raise significant constitutional issues. $ccording to $1& rules, all members – even elected officials fulfil their functions according to the will of the party.

His premature departure Zuma’s second five-year term is due to expire next year will consolidate the power of &yril Ramaphosa, who was elected leader of the $1& in December.

Supporters of Ramaphosa, a multimillionaire businessman who is seen as the standard bearer of the reformist wing of the party, say it is essential that Zuma is sidelined as early as possible to allow the $1& to regroup before campaigning starts in earnest for elections in 201 .

Zuma had led the $1& since 2007 and has been South $frica’s president since 200 . His tenure in both posts has been controversial, with a series of corruption scandals undermining the image and legitimacy of the party that led South $fricans to freedom in 1 4.

The party’s 1(& is split between supporters of Ramaphosa and Zuma. Backers and opponents of the president briefly clashed outside the $1&’s headTuarters in -ohannesburg on 0onday morning.

Statements from senior office holders have made clear in recent days that factional rifts within the $1& itself remain deep despite calls for unity. $ce 0agashule, the $1& secretary general and a Zuma loyalist, said the president would still address the opening of parliament in &ape Town on Thursday. The Democratic $lliance, a prominent opposition party, called for the address to be postponed. (The Guardian)