Pretoria 1 Jul (ANA) - Embattled president of South Africa Jacob Zuma is under renewed pressure to step down this weekend after a series of media reports detailed links between elected officials and a family of tycoons accused of holding undue sway over his administration. More than 100,000 documents and emails leaked to reporters in recent weeks appear to detail improper dealings in lucrative government contracts made with the Gupta family - secretive and immensely wealthy businessmen of Indian origin who have lived in South Africa for decades. Authorities have launched an investigation into several allies of Zuma who have been linked to corruption at three state-owned companies. One of the allegations involves suspected kickbacks worth $ 411m (£ 316m). The Gupta family and Zuma have consistently denied any wrongdoing. The African National Congress, which led the fight against apartheid and has ruled South Africa since Nelson Mandela won the first multiracial elections in 1994, met on Friday to debate the future of a country mired in recession, corruption and political deadlock.

Critics say Zuma has betrayed Mandela’s legacy, replacing idealism and ethics with a brutal and avaricious bid for wealth and power, dividing the ANC and tarnishing the reputation of the post-apartheid “rainbow nation”. Zuma is due to be replaced as ANC leader at a national conference in December. The two strongest candidates are the deputy president, Cyril Ramaphosa, who is seen as the leader of the “reformist” faction of the party, and Zuma’s ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini, a former African Union chair and minister seen by analysts as closer to her ex-husband and his supporters. Whoever wins the contest later this year is likely to become president of the country. Parliamentary elections are due to be held in 2019. (ANA)

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