SOUTH AFRICA: Jacob Zuma survives renewed calls to resign

South African President Jacob Zuma survived fresh calls within the ruling African National Congress party for him to resign, party officials said on Monday, as they acknowledged support was “drifting away” from the movement.

Senior figures in the ANC met over the weekend after Zuma endured months of criticism over his sacking of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan.

“There was a call made in the national executive committee for the president to consider stepping down,” said ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe.

“A number of members ... were of the view that the ANC should listen to this call.”

Mantashe said that the meeting had not backed the resignation demands, and had instead discussed “the need to reconnect with sectors of society that are drifting away from the movement”.