South Africa&#39;s ruling African National Congress (ANC) will hold an urgent meeting on Monday to discuss President Jacob Zuma&#39;s future as head of state after overnight talks with the scandal-plagued 75-year-old failed to secure his departure.

Zuma, in power since 2009, has faced growing pressure to resign since he was replaced as leader of the ANC in December by Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president.

The ANC has summoned its National Working Committee (NWC) to meet at 1200 GMT at the party&#39;s Luthuli House headquarters in downtown Johannesburg.

In order for the party to force Zuma to resign as state president, the NWC would have to call a meeting of the National Executive Committee, its top decision-making body, to vote on Zuma&#39;s exit.

The ANC&#39;s top six most powerful officials met Zuma late on Sunday at his official residence in Pretoria but there was no announcement of the outcome.

In a sign of Zuma digging in, a group of supporters called Black First Land First said they would march to Luthuli House on Monday. In response, a pro-Ramaphosa faction of the ANC said it would &quot;defend&quot; the building, raising the prospect of clashes between different camps of the ANC.

Zuma has been deserted by prominent allies since Ramaphosa became leader of the only party to govern South Africa since the end of white minority rule in 1994.

Ramaphosa, 65, is in a strong position to become the next president and has been lobbying for Zuma&#39;s removal.

Zuma has not said whether he will step down voluntarily before his second term as president ends next year. Opposition parties and some in the ANC want him to go before his State of the Nation address to parliament, scheduled for Thursday.

Overnight talks with the scandal-plagued 75-year-old failed to secure his departure

South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) will hold an urgent meeting on Monday to discuss President Jacob Zuma's future as head of state after overnight talks with the scandal-plagued 75-year-old failed to secure his departure. Zuma, in power since 2009, has faced growing pressure to resign since he was replaced as leader of the ANC in December by Cyril Ramaphosa, the deputy president. The ANC has summoned its National Working Committee (NWC) to meet at 1200 GMT at the party's Luthuli House headquarters in downtown Johannesburg. In order for the party to force Zuma to resign as state president, the NWC would have to call a meeting of the National Executive Committee, its top decision-making body, to vote on Zuma's exit. The ANC's top six most powerful officials met Zuma late on Sunday at his official residence in Pretoria but there was no announcement of the outcome. In a sign of Zuma digging in, a group of supporters called Black First Land First said they would march to Luthuli House on Monday. In response, a pro-Ramaphosa faction of the ANC said it would "defend" the building, raising the prospect of clashes between different camps of the ANC. Zuma has been deserted by prominent allies since Ramaphosa became leader of the only party to govern South Africa since the end of white minority rule in 1994. Ramaphosa, 65, is in a strong position to become the next president and has been lobbying for Zuma's removal. Zuma has not said whether he will step down voluntarily before his second term as president ends next year. Opposition parties and some in the ANC want him to go before his State of the Nation address to parliament, scheduled for Thursday.

South Africa's ANC to hold urgent meeting on Zuma's future

South African veteran politician and anti-apartheid activist Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Tuesday it was &quot;offensive&quot; to suggest her ex-husband, President Jacob Zuma, would have a hand in promoting her political career.

Zuma, 75, will step down as head of the ruling African National Congress at a conference in December. He can remain head of state until a 2019 election, although some analysts think he will hand over before then to whoever becomes the new ANC leader.

Dlamini-Zuma, 68, former head of the African Union and a cabinet minister under Nelson Mandela, has not officially said she will run for the ANC presidency, but she has not denied it.

And she increasingly acts like a leadership contender even though the ANC bans campaigning until candidates have been officially nominated next month.

The former health and foreign affairs minister, who does not currently hold a top position, spoke to business leaders in Johannesburg about her vision for South Africa, calling for changes to fix everything from the economy to inequality.

Flanked by bodyguards, she avoided questions about the prospect of running for the ANC presidency and reacted angrily when asked if Zuma would give her chances a boost.

&quot;I find it offensive,&quot; she said, in reply to a reporter`s question.

&quot;I will not be elected by President Jacob Zuma. If I`m elected, I will be elected by South Africans.&quot;

Zuma, who has four children with his former wife, has endorsed her to lead the ANC and she is therefore expected to benefit from his powerful party base.

Dlamini-Zuma`s main opponent is expected to be Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, a trade unionist-turned-business tycoon who many investors would prefer to see running a country in economic turmoil.

Ramaphosa, who was once Mandela`s chosen successor, has spoken of the need for the ANC to clean up its image so it can win back millions of voters who have switched allegiance during Zuma`s scandal-plagued decade in power.

Dlamini-Zuma is pushing for a more radical redistribution of wealth from whites to blacks, a policy that appeals to many poor people who resent the stark racial inequality that still persists 23 years after the end of apartheid.

The ANC has won every election since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. But analysts say unless its next leader mends party divides and turns around the economy, the party could lose to an opposition coalition in 2019.

South African veteran politician and anti-apartheid activist Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Tuesday it was "offensive" to suggest her ex-husband, President Jacob Zuma, would have a hand in promoting her political career

South African veteran politician and anti-apartheid activist Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Tuesday it was "offensive" to suggest her ex-husband, President Jacob Zuma, would have a hand in promoting her political career. Zuma, 75, will step down as head of the ruling African National Congress at a conference in December. He can remain head of state until a 2019 election, although some analysts think he will hand over before then to whoever becomes the new ANC leader. Dlamini-Zuma, 68, former head of the African Union and a cabinet minister under Nelson Mandela, has not officially said she will run for the ANC presidency, but she has not denied it. And she increasingly acts like a leadership contender even though the ANC bans campaigning until candidates have been officially nominated next month. The former health and foreign affairs minister, who does not currently hold a top position, spoke to business leaders in Johannesburg about her vision for South Africa, calling for changes to fix everything from the economy to inequality. Flanked by bodyguards, she avoided questions about the prospect of running for the ANC presidency and reacted angrily when asked if Zuma would give her chances a boost. "I find it offensive," she said, in reply to a reporter`s question. "I will not be elected by President Jacob Zuma. If I`m elected, I will be elected by South Africans." Zuma, who has four children with his former wife, has endorsed her to lead the ANC and she is therefore expected to benefit from his powerful party base. Dlamini-Zuma`s main opponent is expected to be Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, a trade unionist-turned-business tycoon who many investors would prefer to see running a country in economic turmoil. Ramaphosa, who was once Mandela`s chosen successor, has spoken of the need for the ANC to clean up its image so it can win back millions of voters who have switched allegiance during Zuma`s scandal-plagued decade in power. Dlamini-Zuma is pushing for a more radical redistribution of wealth from whites to blacks, a policy that appeals to many poor people who resent the stark racial inequality that still persists 23 years after the end of apartheid. The ANC has won every election since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. But analysts say unless its next leader mends party divides and turns around the economy, the party could lose to an opposition coalition in 2019.

South Africa's Dlamini-Zuma bristles at claims of inside help from Zuma

South Africa President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday survived a parliamentary vote of no confidence, as ruling ANC party lawmakers stuck by their leader despite growing divisions and fierce criticism of his rule.

Baleka Mbete, the Speaker of parliament, announced that the motion had been defeated, with 177 votes supporting and 198 votes against it.

Baleka Mbete, the Speaker of parliament, announced that the motion had been defeated, with 177 votes supporting and 198 votes against it

South Africa President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday survived a parliamentary vote of no confidence, as ruling ANC party lawmakers stuck by their leader despite growing divisions and fierce criticism of his rule. Baleka Mbete, the Speaker of parliament, announced that the motion had been defeated, with 177 votes supporting and 198 votes against it.

South Africa's Zuma survives no-confidence vote: Speaker

Veteran South African anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada, who was sentenced to life imprisonment alongside Nelson Mandela and went on to be an open critic of President Jacob Zuma, died on Tuesday aged 87. 
 
Affectionately known as &quot;Uncle Kathy&quot;, the liberation struggle stalwart who spent 26-years in prison under the apartheid government, was hospitalised in Johannesburg this month after surgery to relieve blood clotting on the brain.&nbsp; 
 
Kathrada`s foundation said his condition had deteriorated rapidly with pneumonia affecting both lungs. It announced his death at 6 a.m. local time (0400 GMT). 
President Jacob Zuma said Kathrada would be honoured at an official state funeral and flags at government offices would fly at half-mast until then. 
 
Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu said Kathrada helped inspire the world`s confidence in South Africa`s long battle against white-minority rule. 
&quot;May Ahmed rest in peace and rise in glory,&quot; Tutu said in a statement. &quot;May he rejoice in many heavenly cups of hot chocolate with his old friends and comrades.&quot; 
 
Kathrada, who dedicated his life to fighting the racial injustice of white-minority rule, was also one of the most senior African National Congress (ANC) leaders to criticise Zuma as allegations of government corruption mounted. 
 
Last year, Kathrada wrote an open letter calling on Zuma to resign after a series of scandals, from using taxpayers money to upgrade his rural home to destabilising financial markets by flip-flopping on cabinet appointments. 
 
&quot;I am not a political analyst, but I am now driven to ask: Dear Comrade President, don&rsquo;t you think your continued stay as president will only serve to deepen the crisis of confidence in the government of the country?&quot; Kathrada said then. 
 
Born to immigrant Indian parents in the small town of Schweizer-Reneke in the North West province just before the Great Depression in 1929, Kathrada became involved in politics at the age of 12 when he distributed leaflets for the Young Communist League of South Africa. 
 
Following decades of activism, Kathrada was sentenced to life imprisonment and hard labour in 1964, together with seven other ANC luminaries such as Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Govan Mbeki, after a guilty verdict during the Rivonia treason trail. 
 
Jailed at the age of 34, Kathrada spent the next 18 years at the maximum security section on apartheid`s most notorious prison, Robben Island, a few miles offshore from Cape Town.&nbsp; 
 
He was moved to Pollsmoor prison in 1982 and was released from jail on 15 October 1989 at the age of 60, having spent just over 26 years in jail. 
 
(Reuters)

Kathrada was sentenced to life imprisonment alongside Nelson Mandela and went on to be an open critic of President Jacob Zuma

Veteran South African anti-apartheid activist Ahmed Kathrada, who was sentenced to life imprisonment alongside Nelson Mandela and went on to be an open critic of President Jacob Zuma, died on Tuesday aged 87. Affectionately known as "Uncle Kathy", the liberation struggle stalwart who spent 26-years in prison under the apartheid government, was hospitalised in Johannesburg this month after surgery to relieve blood clotting on the brain. Kathrada`s foundation said his condition had deteriorated rapidly with pneumonia affecting both lungs. It announced his death at 6 a.m. local time (0400 GMT). President Jacob Zuma said Kathrada would be honoured at an official state funeral and flags at government offices would fly at half-mast until then. Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond Tutu said Kathrada helped inspire the world`s confidence in South Africa`s long battle against white-minority rule. "May Ahmed rest in peace and rise in glory," Tutu said in a statement. "May he rejoice in many heavenly cups of hot chocolate with his old friends and comrades." Kathrada, who dedicated his life to fighting the racial injustice of white-minority rule, was also one of the most senior African National Congress (ANC) leaders to criticise Zuma as allegations of government corruption mounted. Last year, Kathrada wrote an open letter calling on Zuma to resign after a series of scandals, from using taxpayers money to upgrade his rural home to destabilising financial markets by flip-flopping on cabinet appointments. "I am not a political analyst, but I am now driven to ask: Dear Comrade President, don’t you think your continued stay as president will only serve to deepen the crisis of confidence in the government of the country?" Kathrada said then. Born to immigrant Indian parents in the small town of Schweizer-Reneke in the North West province just before the Great Depression in 1929, Kathrada became involved in politics at the age of 12 when he distributed leaflets for the Young Communist League of South Africa. Following decades of activism, Kathrada was sentenced to life imprisonment and hard labour in 1964, together with seven other ANC luminaries such as Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Govan Mbeki, after a guilty verdict during the Rivonia treason trail. Jailed at the age of 34, Kathrada spent the next 18 years at the maximum security section on apartheid`s most notorious prison, Robben Island, a few miles offshore from Cape Town. He was moved to Pollsmoor prison in 1982 and was released from jail on 15 October 1989 at the age of 60, having spent just over 26 years in jail. (Reuters)

South Africa's anti-apartheid icon Ahmed Kathrada dies at 87

South Africa&#39;s ruling ANC party rejected a call for scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma to resign after a &quot;difficult&quot; debate, a party official said Tuesday.

Zuma has been weakened by corruption scandals, but his supporters were taken by surprise at an attempt to oust him at a weekend meeting of the African National Congress&#39;s executive committee.

The rebellion, led by at least four ministers, was the most serious threat to Zuma&#39;s hold on power since he became president in 2009.

It also shook the ANC party, which has ruled since the end of apartheid in 1994 but recently suffered a sharp setback in local elections.

&quot;Following robust, honest, candid and at times difficult discussions, the (ANC executive committee) did not support the call for the president to step down,&quot; Gwede Mantashe, the ANC secretary general, told reporters.

&quot;All members of the (executive committee) had an opportunity to raise, in the meeting, the issues they feel are hurting the movement and the country. All these are very important.&quot;

Local media said the meeting -- which was extended into Monday -- was tense, with tempers flaring and some ministers threatening to resign if Zuma stayed.

But the president and his loyalists eventually headed off the attempt to oust him.

Zuma left South Africa early on Tuesday to attend the funeral of Cuban leader Fidel Castro.

(AFP)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

The rebellion, led by at least four ministers, was the most serious threat to scandal-tainted Zuma's hold on power

South Africa's ruling ANC party rejected a call for scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma to resign after a "difficult" debate, a party official said Tuesday. Zuma has been weakened by corruption scandals, but his supporters were taken by surprise at an attempt to oust him at a weekend meeting of the African National Congress's executive committee. The rebellion, led by at least four ministers, was the most serious threat to Zuma's hold on power since he became president in 2009. It also shook the ANC party, which has ruled since the end of apartheid in 1994 but recently suffered a sharp setback in local elections. "Following robust, honest, candid and at times difficult discussions, the (ANC executive committee) did not support the call for the president to step down," Gwede Mantashe, the ANC secretary general, told reporters. "All members of the (executive committee) had an opportunity to raise, in the meeting, the issues they feel are hurting the movement and the country. All these are very important." Local media said the meeting -- which was extended into Monday -- was tense, with tempers flaring and some ministers threatening to resign if Zuma stayed. But the president and his loyalists eventually headed off the attempt to oust him. Zuma left South Africa early on Tuesday to attend the funeral of Cuban leader Fidel Castro. (AFP)

South Africa's President Zuma survives no-confidence vote

The African National Congress (ANC) lost its grip on local government in Tshwane, home of the South African capital Pretoria, as results yesterday gave the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) a second big win in the ANC&#39;s worst election since the end of apartheid. 
 
The results of Wednesday&#39;s voting have reshaped the political landscape in South Africa, where the ANC has ruled virtually unopposed since it ended white-minority rule in 1994, led by Nelson Mandela. 
 
Unemployment, economic stagnation and scandals around President Jacob Zuma led voters to punish the ANC, changing the outlook for national elections in 2019 and potentially emboldening Zuma&#39;s rivals within the ANC to challenge him. 
 
Saving some pride, the ANC won in Johannesburg, South Africa&#39;s economic and financial hub, taking 45 per cent of the vote to the DA&#39;s 38 per cent, but will have to form a coalition to govern. 
 
Wins in Tshwane and in Nelson Mandela Bay, which includes the manufacturing hub Port Elizabeth, are a watershed for the DA, which also held Cape Town, a municipality that it has controlled since 2006. 
 
Last year it elected its first black leader, Mmusi Maimane, as it tries to shake off an image of a party mainly serving white interests. 
 
&quot;It signals to everyone that the tide in our country is turning,&quot; Maimane told reporters on yesterday. 
 
The ANC still won the most votes overall&nbsp;and was working to form coalitions in the municipalities where it lost its majority. 
 
&quot;We are into negotiations as we speak,&quot; said Paul Mashatile, the ANC chairman in Gauteng province, which includes Tshwane and Johannesburg. 
 
&quot;It&#39;s quite clear that our people, our traditional supporters, are still with us but maybe not too many people came out to vote so we need to go back and find out why.&quot; 
 
The DA will also need to form coalitions to govern in both Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay. 
 
In his first public remarks since the vote&#39;s outcome, Zuma said South Africa was a &quot;democracy where differences of political opinion and diverse political preferences are allowed to flourish&quot;. 
 
Mismanagement 
 
The ANC has lost support among voters who feel their lives have not improved, and the opposition has accused Zuma of mismanaging the economy. Millions of urban voters are now looking beyond its liberation struggle credentials and focusing on an economy teetering on the edge of a recession. 
 
Zuma rattled investors in December by changing finance ministers twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. The currency has since recovered and received a boost from the lack of violence during the local elections. 
 
The president survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he had broken the law by ignoring an order to repay some of $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his private home. Zuma has since said he will repay some of the money, as ordered by the court. 
 
&quot;The ANC may just become a rural party,&quot; said William Gumede, head of the Democracy Works Foundation think-tank. 
 
The radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party led by Julius Malema, Zuma&#39;s one-time protege but now arch-foe, came a distant third in the local elections, with about 10 percent of the vote. 
 
Malema has drawn support with promises to nationalise banks and land and redistribute among poor black people wealth still mostly in white hands - policies that both the DA and the ANC have not found palatable. 
 
With the ANC and DA both seeking to rule in Johannesburg and Tshwane, the EFF could be courted where coalitions are needed. 
 
Malema has not revealed who he would back, saying: &quot;If anyone comes to us, we&#39;ll talk.&quot; 
 
(Reuters) 
&nbsp;

President Jacob Zuma's mismanagement and scandals have led voters to punish the ANC, emboldening rivals Democratic Alliance

The African National Congress (ANC) lost its grip on local government in Tshwane, home of the South African capital Pretoria, as results yesterday gave the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) a second big win in the ANC's worst election since the end of apartheid. The results of Wednesday's voting have reshaped the political landscape in South Africa, where the ANC has ruled virtually unopposed since it ended white-minority rule in 1994, led by Nelson Mandela. Unemployment, economic stagnation and scandals around President Jacob Zuma led voters to punish the ANC, changing the outlook for national elections in 2019 and potentially emboldening Zuma's rivals within the ANC to challenge him. Saving some pride, the ANC won in Johannesburg, South Africa's economic and financial hub, taking 45 per cent of the vote to the DA's 38 per cent, but will have to form a coalition to govern. Wins in Tshwane and in Nelson Mandela Bay, which includes the manufacturing hub Port Elizabeth, are a watershed for the DA, which also held Cape Town, a municipality that it has controlled since 2006. Last year it elected its first black leader, Mmusi Maimane, as it tries to shake off an image of a party mainly serving white interests. "It signals to everyone that the tide in our country is turning," Maimane told reporters on yesterday. The ANC still won the most votes overall and was working to form coalitions in the municipalities where it lost its majority. "We are into negotiations as we speak," said Paul Mashatile, the ANC chairman in Gauteng province, which includes Tshwane and Johannesburg. "It's quite clear that our people, our traditional supporters, are still with us but maybe not too many people came out to vote so we need to go back and find out why." The DA will also need to form coalitions to govern in both Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay. In his first public remarks since the vote's outcome, Zuma said South Africa was a "democracy where differences of political opinion and diverse political preferences are allowed to flourish". Mismanagement The ANC has lost support among voters who feel their lives have not improved, and the opposition has accused Zuma of mismanaging the economy. Millions of urban voters are now looking beyond its liberation struggle credentials and focusing on an economy teetering on the edge of a recession. Zuma rattled investors in December by changing finance ministers twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. The currency has since recovered and received a boost from the lack of violence during the local elections. The president survived an impeachment vote in April after the Constitutional Court said he had broken the law by ignoring an order to repay some of $16 million in state funds spent on renovating his private home. Zuma has since said he will repay some of the money, as ordered by the court. "The ANC may just become a rural party," said William Gumede, head of the Democracy Works Foundation think-tank. The radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party led by Julius Malema, Zuma's one-time protege but now arch-foe, came a distant third in the local elections, with about 10 percent of the vote. Malema has drawn support with promises to nationalise banks and land and redistribute among poor black people wealth still mostly in white hands - policies that both the DA and the ANC have not found palatable. With the ANC and DA both seeking to rule in Johannesburg and Tshwane, the EFF could be courted where coalitions are needed. Malema has not revealed who he would back, saying: "If anyone comes to us, we'll talk." (Reuters)

South Africa's ANC suffers worst election since taking power

South Africa&#39;s President Jacob Zuma has 45 days to pay back $500,000 of public money spent refurbishing his private home, a lawyer said today, after the Constitutional Court approved the sum. 
 
The court found in March that the president had violated the constitution by defying an order to repay some of the money in one of several scandals that have dogged his government. 
 
The treasury last month valued the non-security upgrades - including a chicken coop - at Nkandla, Zuma&#39;s traditional homestead, at $542,000. 
 
&quot;This court signifies its approval of the amount,&quot; said a letter signed today by the court&#39;s registrar. 
 
Dylan Cron, one of the lawyers involved in bringing the case, confirmed receiving the letter and told AFP that the president has to pay back the money &quot;within 45 days&quot; as the court ordered in its original judgement. 
 
A 2014 report by the public ombudswoman, Thuli Madonsela, found that Zuma and his family had &quot;unduly benefited&quot; from the upgrades and ordered him to pay back some of the money. 
 
The Nkandla scandal has become a symbol of alleged widespread corruption and greed within the ruling ANC party, which faces a tough challenge in next week&#39;s local elections. 
 
After the court&#39;s ruling in March, Zuma was urged to step down by several ANC veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle that brought Nelson Mandela to power in 1994. 
 
It was unclear whether the president would be able to pay the money, and his office made no immediate comment today. 
 
(AFP)

The court had found Zuma in violation of constitution in March after which he was urged to step down by several veterans of ruling ANC party

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma has 45 days to pay back $500,000 of public money spent refurbishing his private home, a lawyer said today, after the Constitutional Court approved the sum. The court found in March that the president had violated the constitution by defying an order to repay some of the money in one of several scandals that have dogged his government. The treasury last month valued the non-security upgrades - including a chicken coop - at Nkandla, Zuma's traditional homestead, at $542,000. "This court signifies its approval of the amount," said a letter signed today by the court's registrar. Dylan Cron, one of the lawyers involved in bringing the case, confirmed receiving the letter and told AFP that the president has to pay back the money "within 45 days" as the court ordered in its original judgement. A 2014 report by the public ombudswoman, Thuli Madonsela, found that Zuma and his family had "unduly benefited" from the upgrades and ordered him to pay back some of the money. The Nkandla scandal has become a symbol of alleged widespread corruption and greed within the ruling ANC party, which faces a tough challenge in next week's local elections. After the court's ruling in March, Zuma was urged to step down by several ANC veterans of the anti-apartheid struggle that brought Nelson Mandela to power in 1994. It was unclear whether the president would be able to pay the money, and his office made no immediate comment today. (AFP)

South Africa court orders Jacob Zuma to pay back $500,000 in 45 days

South Africa&#39;s President Jacob Zuma should pay 7.8 million rand ($510,074) for non-security upgrades to his private Nkandla home, the National Treasury said on Monday. 
 
In a stinging rebuke that hit the scandal-plagued leader financially and politically, the top court in Africa&#39;s most industrialised country in March ordered Zuma to pay back some of the $16 million of state money spent upgrading his private home. 
 
Record unemployment and a looming recession have exacerbated discontent with Zuma&#39;s leadership, ahead of local elections in August. Zuma has managed to hold on to his post with backing from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. 
 
The court gave the Treasury 60 days to work out a &quot;reasonable cost&quot;. Zuma has said he would pay back some of the money used to refurbish the Nkandla residence, which is in KwaZulu-Natal province. 
 
On Monday, Zuma&#39;s office said it would comment on the Treasury report after studying it. 
 
In 2014, it may be recalled, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, whose office is a constitutionally mandated anti-corruption watchdog, identified a swimming pool, cattle enclosure, chicken run, amphitheatre and visitor centre as non-security items that Zuma must pay for. 
 
Estimates from Madonsela&#39;s report had pegged the bill at around 10 million rand. 
 
The unanimous ruling of the 11-judge Constitutional Court also said Zuma had failed to &quot;uphold, defend and respect&quot; the constitution by ignoring Madonsela&#39;s recommendations. 
 
In April, Zuma survived an impeachment vote in parliament after the court&#39;s ruling thanks to backing from ANC lawmakers. In December he was widely criticised for changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

The head of state had used the money to make non-security upgrades to his private home

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma should pay 7.8 million rand ($510,074) for non-security upgrades to his private Nkandla home, the National Treasury said on Monday. In a stinging rebuke that hit the scandal-plagued leader financially and politically, the top court in Africa's most industrialised country in March ordered Zuma to pay back some of the $16 million of state money spent upgrading his private home. Record unemployment and a looming recession have exacerbated discontent with Zuma's leadership, ahead of local elections in August. Zuma has managed to hold on to his post with backing from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has been in power since the end of white-minority rule in 1994. The court gave the Treasury 60 days to work out a "reasonable cost". Zuma has said he would pay back some of the money used to refurbish the Nkandla residence, which is in KwaZulu-Natal province. On Monday, Zuma's office said it would comment on the Treasury report after studying it. In 2014, it may be recalled, Public Protector Thuli Madonsela, whose office is a constitutionally mandated anti-corruption watchdog, identified a swimming pool, cattle enclosure, chicken run, amphitheatre and visitor centre as non-security items that Zuma must pay for. Estimates from Madonsela's report had pegged the bill at around 10 million rand. The unanimous ruling of the 11-judge Constitutional Court also said Zuma had failed to "uphold, defend and respect" the constitution by ignoring Madonsela's recommendations. In April, Zuma survived an impeachment vote in parliament after the court's ruling thanks to backing from ANC lawmakers. In December he was widely criticised for changing his finance minister twice in a week, sending the rand plummeting. (Reuters)

Give back $510,000, South African treasury tells President Zuma

In another setback for South African President Jacob Zuma, who has been facing calls for his resignation, his appeal against a court ruling that corruption charges against him be reinstated was turned down.&nbsp; 
 
The High Court in Pretoria said Zuma and National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams, who had appealed the earlier ruling alongside the president, had no grounds to do so. 
 
In April, the same court had ordered a review of a 2009 decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to set aside hundreds of charges against Zuma.&nbsp; 
 
State prosecutors justified dropping the 783 charges in 2009, saying that tapped phone calls between officials in then-president Thabo Mbeki&#39;s administration showed undue interference in the case. 
 
The 2009 decision by the NPA allowed Zuma to run for president the same month. 
 
&quot;We seriously considered whether the appeal would have reasonable prospects of success and came to the conclusion that there are no merits in the arguments,&quot; Judge Aubrey Ledwaba told the High Court in Pretoria on Friday.&nbsp; 
 
&quot;The applications for leave to appeal... are dismissed,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; 
 
It was not immediately clear if Zuma would appeal Friday&#39;s ruling, but legal analysts said both he and the NPA could lodge a petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal. 
 
The South African leader has been beset by scandal during his tenure, but has managed to hold on to his post with backing from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party.&nbsp;The hundreds of corruption charges relate to a major government arms deal arranged in the late 1990s. Zuma has also been facing criticism for the poor growth rate in South Africa.&nbsp; 
 
Local elections in August pose a major risk for Zuma&#39;s party, which is facing a strong challenge from opponents seeking to capitalise on what they see as the president&#39;s missteps. 
 
(Agencies)&nbsp;

The President can still petition the Supreme Court of Appeals, but this ruling strengthens calls for his resignation

In another setback for South African President Jacob Zuma, who has been facing calls for his resignation, his appeal against a court ruling that corruption charges against him be reinstated was turned down. The High Court in Pretoria said Zuma and National Director of Public Prosecutions Shaun Abrahams, who had appealed the earlier ruling alongside the president, had no grounds to do so. In April, the same court had ordered a review of a 2009 decision by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to set aside hundreds of charges against Zuma. State prosecutors justified dropping the 783 charges in 2009, saying that tapped phone calls between officials in then-president Thabo Mbeki's administration showed undue interference in the case. The 2009 decision by the NPA allowed Zuma to run for president the same month. "We seriously considered whether the appeal would have reasonable prospects of success and came to the conclusion that there are no merits in the arguments," Judge Aubrey Ledwaba told the High Court in Pretoria on Friday. "The applications for leave to appeal... are dismissed,” he said. It was not immediately clear if Zuma would appeal Friday's ruling, but legal analysts said both he and the NPA could lodge a petition to the Supreme Court of Appeal. The South African leader has been beset by scandal during his tenure, but has managed to hold on to his post with backing from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party. The hundreds of corruption charges relate to a major government arms deal arranged in the late 1990s. Zuma has also been facing criticism for the poor growth rate in South Africa. Local elections in August pose a major risk for Zuma's party, which is facing a strong challenge from opponents seeking to capitalise on what they see as the president's missteps. (Agencies)

South African court throws out Zuma's appeal to overturn 783 graft charges related to major arms deal

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