SOUTH AFRICAN President Jacob Zuma brushed off an internal challenge to his leadership of the ruling ANC yesterday.

A vote of no confidence in Mr Zuma was expected to be held at the weekend meeting of the party’s national executive, which was extended for an extra day to deal with it.

The challenge was reportedly led by Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom and tabled on Saturday while several Zuma allies were away at a wedding in Cape Town.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga, Public Works Minister Thulas Nxesi and, crucially, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan were among those urging Mr Zuma to resign.

Chief Whip Jackson Mthembu and Gauteng Province chairman Paul Mashatile, who lost control of the key Johannesburg and Tshwane city councils in this year’s local elections, were also among the rebels.

However, the vote did not materialise by yesterday evening and Mr Gordhan had reportedly left the meeting early.

Mr Zuma seemed unconcerned by the challenge, welcoming visiting Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni at the presidential guesthouse.

The presidential office also announced that Mr Zuma would attend Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro’s funeral in Havana on Sunday and had ordered flags on government buildings to be flown at half-mast today.

Mr Zuma has come under fire for his government’s allegedly cosy relationship with the super-rich Indian Gupta family, including allegations by billionaire Johann Rupert’s media empire that Mr Gordhan was briefly removed from his post at their request.

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