Cape Town – Former president Jacob Zuma and his uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party have delivered a dramatic ultimatum to President Cyril Ramaphosa: resign by 10:00 AM on Friday, 8 August 2025, or face legal action and political mobilisation.
Zuma’s demand, conveyed in a letter through KMNS Attorneys, brands Ramaphosa’s recent handling of the SAPS leadership reshuffle as a breach of constitutional duty.
The letter accuses the President of “repeatedly violating his oath of office”, notably in the decision to place Police Minister Senzo Mchunu on leave and appoint Wits law professor Firoz Cachalia as acting minister, reported The Citizen.
The Constitutional Court has denied direct access to the MK Party and former president Jacob Zuma in their bid to challenge President Cyril Ramaphosa’s decision to suspend Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and put Firoz Cachalia in an acting capacity. Zuma and MKP approached the top… pic.twitter.com/YQj7MTf9Gt
— Newzroom Afrika (@Newzroom405) July 31, 2025
The pressure comes hot on the heels of a Constitutional Court ruling on 31 July 2025 dismissing Zuma and the MK party’s urgent application to invalidate those ministerial decisions. The court held it did not have jurisdiction and refused direct access for the MK party.
[MEDIA STATEMENT]: MK PARTY CONDEMNS CONSTITUTIONAL COURT FOR SHEILDING RAMAPHOSA’s ILLEGAL ACTIONS. pic.twitter.com/KfZzykxfKg
— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (Official) (@MkhontoweSizwex) July 31, 2025
Undeterred, Zuma’s legal team demanded that Ramaphosa provide explicit details — including the exact time decisions were made — about the appointments and the definition of roles like “Minister Designate” in constitutional terms.
The MK party under Zuma has previously set an earlier deadline — 9:00 AM on 18 July — tying it symbolically to Mandela Day, threatening a motion of no confidence, mass protests, and constitutional litigation if demands were not met.
[MEDIA STATEMENT]: MK PARTY STATEMENT ON RAMAPHOSA MISSING THE DEADLINE SET BY THE CHIEF JUSTICE ON THE MKHWANAZI MATTER. pic.twitter.com/1Pf2SzHS9b
— uMkhonto WeSizwe Party (Official) (@MkhontoweSizwex) July 23, 2025
MK spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela labelled Ramaphosa’s GNU government a “political fraud” and blamed it for undermining voter intent after the ANC lost its outright majority in the 2024 election and forced a coalition government scenario.
In reaction, Ramaphosa’s office, via spokesperson Vincent Magwenya, acknowledged receipt of the letter, stating: “Sure, the legal team will deal with it”, reported AfricaNews.
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Compiled by Lisabeal nqamqhele
