SOUTH African Communist Party (SACP) leader Solly Mapaila has launched his harshest attack yet on ANC President Jacob Zuma, branding him a “minion” of the tycoon Gupta family.

Speaking on Tuesday night at a memorial lecture for late general secretary Chris Hani, assassinated in 1993, Mr Mapaila called for the resignation of South Africa’s president for “giving away national independence” to the wealthy Indian family.

The Guptas, who are close friends of Mr Zuma, have been implicated in widespread state capture, a scandal that has led to mass protests demanding the president to step down.