Politics

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African President Jacob Zuma’s office said it’s concerned by the “relentless public attacks” on him by leaders of Sibanye Gold Ltd. and AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. The presidency issued the statement after recent calls by AngloGold Ashanti Chairman Sipho Pityana and Sibanye Chief Executive Officer Neal Froneman urging Zuma to resign, arguing that his government’s poor record is deterring investment and economic growth. While Zuma respects freedom of speech, “such dialogue is more helpful…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African President Jacob Zuma must intervene in the police investigation of Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan because it’s heightening chances that the nation’s credit rating will be downgraded to junk, said the Johannesburg chairman of the ruling party, Parks Tau. “The issues around the finance minister require urgent intervention because the single most important task right now is to ensure that all of us as South Africans protect the economy of this country,” Tau,…

JOHANNESBURG (Capital Markets in Africa) – South African businesses and citizens “require courage” to “protect their sovereignty” and must urge President Jacob Zuma to quit before his term ends in 2019, the chairman of the world’s third-biggest gold producer said. The business community “must accept it’s a valid voice,” AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. Chairman Sipho Pityana, 57, said in a speech at a mining conference in Johannesburg Wednesday. “If we each continue to keep our heads down, protecting our…