Embattled South African President Jacob Zuma backed by ruling party

The reshuffle included the dismissal of a well-regarded finance minister who had challenged the president, as well as several other ministers who openly called for Zuma to resign as he sank deeper in public opinion amid long-simmering corruption scandals.

Zuma has come under mounting pressure to quit after sacking his respected Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan.

Hours after Mantashe spoke, the parliament scheduled debate on an opposition motion of no confidence in Zuma for April 18. “That will be uncharacteristic of the ANC”.

The African National Congress has ruled South Africa for 23 years, ever since the end of apartheid and the first free election in 1994.

Gordhan sacking last week was condemned across South Africa’s political spectrum and saw a key union federation withdraw its support for the president.

Fuzile’s exit follows the decision by S&P Global Ratings to lower South Africa’s sovereign credit rating to a subinvestment grade of BB+, from BBB-, on political and institutional uncertainty.

Since coming to power in 2009, Zuma has been hit by a series of corruption scandals, while the ANC suffered its worst ever results in local polls previous year.

Deep rifts within the ANC’s top six were glaringly visible with the secretary- general Gwede Mantashe accusing President Zuma of unilateralism.

Newsmen report that South Africa’s largest trade union confederation on Tuesday joined the ranks of Zuma’s critics and called on him to step down. The ANC formed the commission in 2013 to help protect its image and deal with members of the party alleged to have behaved improperly.

“We have confidence in the leaders” of Parliament and the African National Congress “and we trust that they will rise to the occasion and give decisive, fearless and honest leadership”, the bishops said.

Mantashe refused to comment on whether Zuma would remain president for the duration of his term.

He called on companies not to penalise workers who wished to attend the march and encouraged civil servants to take Friday off to be part of the march.

As he indicated in his defence of the Cabinet reshuffle, President Zuma chose the youthful Gigaba (Finance Minister) and Fikile Mbalula (Home Affairs) for the exuberance and also the fact that they appear not beholden to white capital. “The unemployment rate is still rising”, said Andile Memela, an unemployed youth who lives in a Zuma stronghold in Kwa-Zulu Natal.”I think it’s time for him to step down as president”. We will offer them our unequivocal support in executing the budget that was tabled by Comrade Pravin Gordhan following approval by Cabinet after thoroughgoing consultations.

Most importantly, the minutes includes the reiteration of the ANC’s dedication to radical economic transformation by citing the problems in SA as being a class struggle that would exist even without President Zuma – despite there being no planned change in financial policy to address this rhetoric.