By Mariette le Roux
As some media and opposition politicians called for President Thabo Mbeki to announce the fate of his corruption implicated deputy, Jacob Zuma, there was no sign by Friday as to when this would happen.
"I don't know," said presidential spokesperson Bheki Khumalo, asked when Mbeki was expected to make an announcement.
Asked if the issue still needed to be discussed at any fora, Khumalo said: "I don't know how the matter will be handled".
| The Star says the world awaits Mbeki's 'big decision' |
Earlier this week, government spokesperson Joel Netshitenzhe said Mbeki would "communicate to the public any decisions that he will have taken on the matter" as soon as practicable after his return from a state visit to Chile.
Mbeki returned on Thursday morning. After spending two days in Cape Town, he was expected to return to Pretoria over the weekend, and to leave for Qatar on a two-day state visit on Monday evening.
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Zuma's financial adviser, Schabir Shaik, was sentenced to 15 years in jail on Wednesday after being convicted of fraud and theft involving improper financial dealings with the deputy president.
Judge Hilary Squires ruled that the men had a "generally corrupt" relationship, and found Shaik guilty of soliciting a R500 000-a-year bribe for Zuma from French arms company Thomson-CSF in return for protection from a probe into South Africa's multi-billion rand arms deal.
Numerous opposition political parties have since called for Zuma to quit or be fired.
| One headline reads: 'Zuma must vooma!' |
In an editorial, The Star newspaper said on Friday that Africa and the world were awaiting Mbeki's "big decision".
The time has come for Africa to demonstrate it was serious about improving governance and weeding out corruption - especially in light of the upcoming summit of the G8 group of industrial nations which was due to consider proposals to scrap the continent's debt and increase aid.
"And that must apply especially to Mbeki, the arch-champion of Nepad (the New Partnership for Africa's Development) and the African Renaissance," the newspaper said.
"South Africa will not be alone in awaiting his big decision over Zuma."
Die Beeld said the constitution, political tradition and South Africa's commitment to honest, unimpeachable political management placed an onus on Zuma, as deputy president, to be beyond reproach.
While he had not been found guilty in a court of law, Squires determined on factual evidence that Zuma was in a corrupt relationship with Shaik. As a result, Zuma could not continue in his post.
The newspaper also referred to the need for Africa to be seen to be shaking off its "corrupt customs", and that it could be trusted with investments.
For its part, the Mail and Guardian called for the deputy president to go with the words: "Zuma must vooma!"
"The pro-Zuma backlash is using revolutionary language. Yet it has the contrary purpose - it seeks to denigrate all the democratic revolutionary fruit the ANC itself has helped to harvest."
The Pretoria News said the politics surrounding the matter would present the Mbeki administration and parliament with a severe test.
"The choices are stark and, whatever the outcome, the effects are going to reach deeply into the body politic of South Africa."
The Citizen newspaper expressed sympathy for Mbeki for the decision he needed to take.
It said Zuma was unsuitable to be deputy president, but added:
"No matter how convincing is the case against Zuma on moral, legal or constitutional grounds, the political terrain resembles a minefield".
Mbeki could clearly not remove Zuma without a fight, considering the deputy president had "substantial" allies, the Citizen said.
With Zuma apparently more popular than Mbeki, the president could cause an "almighty rumpus" in the ruling African National Congress if he were to act as swiftly as many were demanding.
"Therefore we expect a slow, methodical exit for Zuma," the newspaper said. "But he must go, or Mbeki's legacy as Africa's leading light will be ruined."
In his weekly letter, Democratic Alliance and opposition leader Tony Leon said the only way to save the South African government's image at home and abroad was for Zuma to resign or be dismissed.
Establishing a judicial commission of inquiry into the arms deal at large should be Mbeki's next responsibility after dismissing Zuma, Leon said.
"If he fails to do either, the fight against corruption in South Africa will be lost." - Sapa
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