Zuma is the centre of the storm

Intense mobilisation is under way to push out President Jacob Zuma, who has become increasingly isolated after his shock reshuffle this week.

The midnight announcement last week, which included the dismissal of finance minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy, Mcebisi Jonas, has resulted in a rebellion within the ANC and widespread calls across society for him to be ousted.

The funeral and memorial services for ANC stalwart Ahmed Kathrada, who was critical of Zuma, were used as the springboard for this campaign.

The reshuffle sparked an unprecedented public face-off between Zuma and half of the ANC's top six in Luthuli House, who rejected his decision and publicly distanced the party from his choices.

A motion of no confidence in parliament – initiated by opposition parties, but supported by ANC MPs who are anti-Zuma – is being planned.

The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the DA have announced that they are talking to ANC MPs, many of whom seem receptive to the idea. But there are concerns that momentum could be lost as parliament is in recess and only resumes on May 9.

And there are concerns that Speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete, who is also the national chairperson of the ANC, may drag this out to make sure temperatures cool down. She is currently overseas on parliamentary business and is only due back on Thursday.

Those backing the motion also fear that Zuma's allies may have time to lobby MPs one by one while in their home districts.

ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe said the weekend he disagreed with Zuma but that he was not about to write the ANC's obituary because “the ANC deals with many issues and for 105 years it has resolved them”. He defended his breaking ranks with Zuma.

“I am doing what I think is right and I am doing it to the best of my ability,” Mantashe said.

He said despite criticism from Zuma's backers that he was defying his authority, his message to grass roots ANC members remained that “there is a Cabinet reshuffle that has been done without proper consultation with the ANC”. ANC Treasurer-General Zweli Mkhize said this reshuffle was different from previous ones, where there had been genuine consultation with senior officials.

Mkhize said while he respected Zuma's prerogative, it was important “to ensure that such decisions made can be owned, justified and defended by the leadership collective”.



'Zuma's days are numbered'

SA Communist Party (SACP) second deputy general-secretary Solly Mapaila told City Press Zuma's days were numbered.

The ANC's alliance partner emerged from its politburo on Friday night with a message that it wanted him to resign.

Despite the fact that its deployees in government were inclined to leave, the SACP took a “strategic decision” for them to stay inside and fight as government did not belong to Zuma.

Mapaila acknowledged that Zuma's loyalists would “come for us”, but said they did not have monopoly over the ANC.

The SACP is now talking about a mass political programme to counter Zuma, and is planning a national imbizo of organisations on 22 April.



Zuma had to show strength

City Press has heard that Zuma's backers concluded in recent weeks that it was safe to get rid of opponents such as Gordhan.

They advised him that “it is high time to move” to avoid looking weak and being seen to be afraid of ratings agencies and big business.

New finance minister Malusi Gigaba was only expected to “tinker with fiscal policies here and there, where we need radical economic transformation”, said an NEC member who is close to Zuma.

“So, we dealt with Treasury. The rand will go down and it will pick up again because we are not going to come up with major policy changes.”

Strategists in the Zuma camp also noted that Gordhan and those ministers who had challenged Zuma's authority had “no constituencies” in the ANC and would be unable to destabilise his support.



Motion of no confidence

Zuma's backers are confident that they will muster the 201 votes needed to stave off a motion of no-confidence and ensure his survival.

Said one: “It is not easy for an ANC member, especially the backbenchers, to take an anti-ANC position.”

An ANC MP, who has been lobbied by the opposition, said this was a desperate move by opposition parties which was unlikely succeed.

The MP also questioned the timing of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mantashe's public criticisms of Zuma, saying it was most likely about the ANC's succession battle.

“They voted for and supported Zuma all along, despite being cautioned. Mantashe would not listen to anything about Zuma in Mangaung.

“Now they want to use people for their own project. When did they realise the problems with Zuma?”

In the meantime, South Africans are being urged to shut down the country on Friday and thousands of people have signed up to a social media campaign for the day of action against corruption.

The campaign, which went viral over the weekend, called on everyone to take part in the national shutdown: “Do not go to work, or to school or do anything unless you're taking to the streets in protest.

“On Friday 7 April South Africans need to take to the streets in masses... wherever you are, with signs of protest to make our collective voice heard. “Block highways, stand with your communities, go to political houses, go to prayer meetings, arrange your own marches. Do whatever you can to make your voice heard.”

The protest was being organised to protest against corruption and call for President Jacob Zuma to step down, organisers said.

The message ended with the #ZumaMustFall #SouthAfricaMustRise hashtags. A Facebook event called “The day SA comes to a standstill #sawillrise” was being hosted by the Zuma Must Fall March and We are South Africans and by Sunday night 3 300 people had said they would participate. The police had taken note of the message circulating on social media and the matter would be monitored by the National Joint Operational and Intelligence Structure, national police spokesperson Vish Naidoo told News24.

The organisers said they would be posting updates on where gatherings were happening throughout the country.

There were some concerns about the movement targeting and giving voice to only middle-class people.

Black Monday was well attended at several sites across the country yesterday but, the movement caused major divisions with commentary relating to passivity regarding marches related to events such as Marikana.

It appears as if the pressure on Jacob Zuma has no hope of relenting soon.

NEWS24 & NAMPA/REUTERS