South Africa’s ANC confirms ‘recall’ of Zuma from presidency

South Africa’s ruling ANC party confirmed Tuesday that it had decided to “recall” scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma from office, but said no deadline had been set for him to resign.

ANC secretary-general Ace Magashule told reporters that Zuma had “agreed in principle to resign and had proposed time frames extending from three to six months”.

Magashule said there was no deadline and that there was “continuing interaction” between party officials and Zuma.

“In its wisdom, the NEC (National Executive Committee) decided… to recall its deployee Jacob Zuma,” Magashule told reporters.

“The decision by the NEC to recall its deployee was taken only after exhaustive discussion on the impact such a recall would have on the country, the ANC and the functioning of government.”

The ANC party can “recall” the head of state, but the process is a party-level instruction and he is under no constitutional obligation to obey.