Another call for Zuma to resign - this time by ANC stalwarts
ANC stalwarts have unanimously decided to ask the ruling party to recall President Jacob Zuma.
The veterans are addressing the media following a meeting to discuss the events of the past week.
The last week saw a dramatic cabinet reshuffle by President Zuma, which was swiftly followed by a credit ratings downgrade by ratings agency Standard and Poor's.
LISTEN: Pieter van der Merwe with the latest on the press briefing:
Murphy Morobe said they have noted the calls by tripartite alliance partners Cosatu and the South African Communist Party for President Zuma to step down.
"To that extent, the stalwarts and veterans this morning were quite unanimous in coming to the view that we align ourselves, primarily with the spirit and the content of the message that Ahmed Kathrada has left us. And to that extent we would then connect our own position right now, based on all of these developments that have been outlined, that they have left us with no other conclusion that the need to call on the ANC to recall the president is now long overdue," said Murphy.
The stalwarts severely criticised President Zuma for the manner in which he dealt with struggle icon Ahmed Kathrada's funeral and the cabinet reshuffle.
Cheryl Carolus said President Zuma has made history by defying the party that elected him into office.
"He is the first president in the history of our democracy to actually decide to de-link himself completely from the highest elected office bearers in his organisation the African National Congress. The president decides he has no accountability to any of structures of the ANC," said Carolus.