Top ANC officials rally behind South Africa’s Zuma, amid row over billionaire Gupta brothers

The supreme decision-making organ of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress party on Sunday rallied behind beleaguered President Jacob Zuma amid allegations that a wealthy Indian immigrant family has influenced ministerial appointments.

“The ANC continues to confirm its full confidence in our president,” party secretary general Gwede Mantashe told journalists, adding that the issue of whether or not Zuma should stand down “never arose” at the body’s three-day meeting.

Issues discussed at the meeting included claims by senior party and government officials that the billionaire Gupta brothers were interfering with the running of the government.

isters under Zuma, whose presidency has been engulfed in graft scandals and growing disillusionment over the country’s post-apartheid prospects.

The latest graft claims to hit the president erupted last week after deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas said he was offered the top job in the treasury by the Guptas.

Mantashe said the party held “frank and robust” discussions on the subject of the Guptas and that “appropriate action” would be taken.