NATIONAL NEWS - Several cabinet ministers threatened to resign at the weekend if Jacob Zuma remained as South Africa’s president. The ministers made the dramatic threat on Sunday on the sidelines of a tense extended national executive committee (NEC) meeting. The threat can be viewed as a pre-emptive strike against Zuma, who has been planning a cabinet reshuffle to purge his political opponents.

One of the ministers said: “It’s a malicious rumour – we are fighting within ANC processes.”

The ministers are known to Times Media.

Many ministers who have been contemplating resigning spoke out in support of Zuma’s recall at a three-day NEC meeting in Irene at the weekend.

The ministers who spoke out face a stark choice should he remain in office – either resign and make way for Zuma to fill their positions with his loyalists or wait for him to reshuffle them for launching an attack on him.

Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi, his deputy, Joe Phaahla, and ANC economic transformation chief Enoch Godongwana were among those who led the charge against the embattled president.

Sources said Home Affairs Minister Malusi Gigaba, Sports Minister Fikile Mbalula, Deputy Defence Minister Kebby Maphatsoe and African Union Commission chairwoman Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma came to Zuma’s defence, saying he must stay put.

Sources from both sides said there was a point in the meeting at which Deputy Agriculture Minister Bheki Cele and Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa almost came to blows.

Cele chided an irate Mthethwa about the Marikana massacre when Mthethwa was police minister.