Former President Jacob Zuma has given his successor, Cyril Ramaphosa, a new ultimatum to resign from office by Friday, 8 August 2025 or face court action.
This is Zumas second ultimatum to Ramaphosa in three weeks following his and uMkhonto weSizwe MK Partys earlier one on 15 July, when they demanded that he resign by Friday, 18 July. The President failed to heed this ultimatum.
Zuma and MK Party subsequently filed a Constitutional Court application to challenge the legality of Ramaphosas announcements on 13 July in response to allegations by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi .
The announcements included the establishment of a judicial commission of inquiry to probe Mkhwanazis claims. Ramaphosa also placed Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave of absence and stated his intention to appoint Professor Firoz Cachalia as Acting Police Minister.
The Constitutional Court dismissed the application last week. Cachalia was subsequently sworn in as a Minister on 1 August and became Acting Police Minister.
Zumas new ultimatum to RamaphosaIn a letter of demand to Ramaphosa dated 4 August 2025, Zumas lawyers said he was acting as a concerned citizen, voter, taxpayer and former President.
The ex-President demanded answers to 15 questions from his successor, including when he placed Mchunu on leave of absence and appointed Cachalia as Acting Minister. He specifically asked for date and time for both actions.
Some of Zumas other questions include:
- What is the present, correct, full and official description of Mr Senzo Mchunu?
- For how long is it envisaged that South Africa will have and pay for two Ministers of Police at the same time?
- It is still your version that Minister Mchunu is legally entitled to an inquiry to determine the veracity of the serious allegations made by Lt-General Mkhwanazi before the President can remove or dismiss him from the Cabinet?
- If so, on what legal grounds is his right to own an inquiry and/or your obligation to fulfil that right, based?
- What were your reasons for not dismissing Minister Mchunu based on the current allegations? What is the public benefit in having 2 two Ministers of Police, one active and the other one on leave?
Zuma views Ramaphosas conduct as illegal and irrational and unconstitutional regardless of his answers, the lawyers wrote.
Nevertheless, the ex-President demanded that Ramaphosa must provide the answers, withdraw his 13 July decisions, and desist from and/or undo the conduct that led to Cachalias swearing-in.
