Zuma

South African President Jacob Zuma’s son said on Wednesday that there was an orchestrated plot to remove his father from the helm of Africa’s most industrialized economy.

“We know it’s only not about the well being of the country … its about merely personal vendettas that they have against the President of the country,” Edward Zuma said in an interview with ENCA television station.

“They are feeling the pressure, the pressure is simple: get Zuma out of power. They have tried many tricks in the book, they have failed.”

Zuma on Tuesday survived an impeachment vote in parliament launched after the constitutional court ruled he had ignored an order to repay state funds spent on his private home.

Meanwhile, the biggest test for the survival of Jacob Zuma and the African National Congress will come up on 3 August.

South Africa will hold local government elections on the day,  President Jacob Zuma said on Wednesday.

The election is being touted as  a referendum on his leadership after an attempt to impeach him and mounting concern about weak economic growth.