South Africa Is Desperate to End a Leadership Crisis

South African President Jacob Zuma’s grip on power is looking increasingly tenuous. On Nov. 2, the nation’s graft ombudsman released a report suggesting the president had been unduly influenced by three wealthy businessmen who work with his son, Duduzane. Zuma also had suffered a major setback in a battle with his finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, for control of the National Treasury.

In August, voters showed their indignation by handing control of Pretoria, the capital, and Johannesburg, the financial hub, to opposition parties in municipal elections. Ruling African National Congress veterans, labor unions, and civil rights and church groups that had quietly grumbled about Zuma’s leadership are now clamoring for him to go. While Zuma has shrugged off previous scandals, thanks to his allies in the ruling party, he’ll probably be replaced as party leader in just over a year, when the ANC chooses his successor for the next five years.