scandalsEast London (South Africa), Jan 13 (AFP) The new head ofSouth Africa's ruling ANC, Cyril Ramaphosa, pledged to"restore the credibility" of the party after a spate of graftscandals involving President Jacob Zuma.
Zuma was replaced as party chief by his deputy CyrilRamaphosa in December with the new leader facing an uphilltask to recover public support for Africa's oldest liberationmovement ahead of the 2019 elections.
"We must restore the integrity and credibility of theANC," said the 65-year-old in his first major address to theparty at a rally for the African National Congress's 106thanniversary celebrations.
"The movement has become deeply divided throughfactionalism, patronage, corruption and competition forresources," said the former trade unionist who led talks toend white-minority rule in the early 1990s and then became amulti-millionaire businessman before returning to politics.
"We are going to confront corruption," he said, pledgingthat "the investigation and prosecution of those responsible(for manipulating the state machinery for their own ends) willbe given top priority."This week, Zuma -- who was also at Saturday's meeting inEast London -- announced a probe into top-level corruptionafter parliament said it would deliberate procedures forimpeachment.
Corruption allegations have tarnished Zuma's image anderoded his support base, with the beleaguered leader facinggrowing pressure to resign before his presidential term endsin 2019.
Back in 2014, Zuma failed to abide by recommendationsmade by the anti-corruption watchdog over USD 15 million (12.5million euros) of taxpayer-funded refurbishments at his homein the eastern KwaZulu-Natal province.
After the Constitutional Court found against him, heeventually reimbursed the equivalent of around USD 500,000 fornon-security-related work at his homestead, a sum set by thetreasury.
In 2016, a damning report questioned Zuma's dealings withthe Guptas, a wealthy family of Indian origin, who wereallegedly granted influence over his cabinet appointments.
Last month, Zuma suffer another blow when Ramaphosa, whocampaigned on an anti-corruption ticket, was elected ANCpresident beating the president's former wife NkosazanaDlamini-Zuma. (AFP)UZM.
This is unedited, unformatted feed from the Press Trust of India wire.