The United Democratic Movement (UDM) has joined the Democratic Alliance in calling for Deputy President Jacob Zuma to step down.
“President [Thabo] Mbeki should protect the dignity of the presidency by asking Mr Zuma to step down,” UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said on Monday.
He said there was an emerging consensus Zuma had not been cleared.
Public prosecutions head Bulelani Ngcuka announced on Saturday that Zuma would not be prosecuted over South Africa’s multibillion-rand arms deal, despite indications that there may be a corruption case for him to answer to.
Allegations, which the deputy president has repeatedly rejected, are that Zuma tried to solicit a R500 000 bribe from Alain Thetard, the former Southern African head of French arms company Thomson CSF.
Holomisa said on Monday that Mbeki should “understand that we are not only dealing here with criminal evidence and the question of reasonable doubt.
“We are also dealing with a balance of probabilities and, party politics aside, the important thing is that damage is being done to the presidency and the country as a whole.
“He need not therefore wait for a conviction to ask the deputy president to step down to protect the national interest,” he said.
On Sunday, DA chief whip Douglas Gibson said Zuma should resign to protect the dignity of his office, and “before there are further humiliations”.
On Monday the DA asked the Ethics Committee to investigate whether Deputy President Jacob Zuma failed to declare certain benefits.
Weekend media reports claimed that Zuma had received benefits from businessman Schabir Shaik in excess of R500 000.
Gibson said on Monday there was no record of such benefits in the Registrar of Members’ Interests.
He has written to the Registrar of Members’ Interests, requesting that the Ethics Committee launch the appropriate investigation. — Sapa
Show me the money: Zuma