Zuma report finds possible corruption

South Africa’s anti-corruption watchdog on Wednesday released its report into accusations against President Jacob Zuma and called for prosecutors to investigate alleged criminal activity.

Zuma, whose presidency has been engulfed by multiple scandals, had fought to block the release of the Public Protector’s report, until his lawyers made a surprise U-turn and dropped their legal appeal earlier in the day.
The report was released hours later, further undermining Zuma after a series of court rulings that have tarnished his time in office and fueled calls for him to stand down.
The investigation probed accusations that Zuma allowed the Guptas, a wealthy Indian business family, to have undue influence over government, including letting them choose some cabinet ministers.
Among findings in the 355-page report was evidence that David van Rooyen visited the Johannesburg neighborhood where the Guptas live on the day before he was appointed finance minister.
Van Rooyen, a Zuma loyalist, was removed as finance minister just four days later following a market plunge, investor panic and waves of political outrage. In the report, the Public Protector said it “brings to the notice of the National Prosecuting Authority... those matters identified in this report where it appears crimes have been committed.”
In a separate scandal, the director of the National Prosecuting Authority this week dropped fraud charges against Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan following an outcry by South Africans who suspected the move to prosecute Gordhan was an attempt by government factions to take control of the national treasury.
On Wednesday, business executives, religious leaders and others gathered in a Pretoria cathedral to demand that Zuma quit. They said alleged corruption linked to the president was undermining one of Africa’s biggest economies, which is experiencing weak growth, as well as a constitution that was crafted after the end of white minority rule in 1994.
“It is not possible to turn the situation around” as long as Zuma remains president, said Sipho Pityana of Save South Africa, a coalition of groups that say they seek to protect the constitution.
Separate rallies were also held in Pretoria by South Africa’s two biggest opposition parties, the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters. The ruling African National Congress party, which took power after the end of apartheid, lost several key municipalities in local elections in August, partly because of public dissatisfaction with the president.
The marches were mostly peaceful, but some shop windows were smashed and police fired rubber bullets to disperse a crowd in one area during the street demonstrations. Four people were arrested for throwing stones at passing cars, the African News Agency reported.

Source: Arab News