South Africas Manuel joins those saying Zuma should resign

Former South African finance minister Trevor Manuel, who served under Nelson Mandela for 11 years, said on Tuesday President Jacob Zuma should resign after a scathing constitutional court ruling over state spending on his private home.

“I think it’s in all our interest that the President actually steps aside,” Manuel said in an interview published online by the Soweto TV channel as Zuma faced an impeachment debate in parliament.

South Africa’s parliament began a debate on Tuesday on a motion to impeach President Jacob Zuma after the constitutional court ruled that he breached the constitution by ignoring an order to repay some of the $16 million in state funds spent on his private home.

The debate was delayed for more than an hour after the opposition demanded Speaker Baleka Mbete recuse herself, stating that she was also cited in the case against Zuma.

Following consultations with lawmakers, Mbete ruled that she would preside over the debate. At the conclusion of the debate, parliament will vote on the motion to remove Zuma, who was not in the assembly.