The DA has lobbed a grenade into the ANC camp by alleging that Gauteng premier, David Makhura, is plotting to remove president Jacob Zuma from office.<\/p>\n
Speaking in the National Assembly this week, DA\u2019s Chief Whip in Parliament, John Steenhuisen, said that the reason for Makhura’s absence in the house was because of his disdain for the president.<\/p>\n
“The reason why the premier of Gauteng Province is not here today, is because he hates president Zuma. He is in his province doing what South Africans across the length and breadth of this country are doing, and that’s plotting to get this president out of office, and rescue this country,” Steenhuisen said.<\/p>\n
Watch: DA member roasts ANC in Parliament while Zuma looks on<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Data published late last year showed that public disapproval ratings for the ANC has increased significantly since 2011 under president Jacob Zuma, with particular concern in economic capital of Gauteng.<\/p>\n The ANC admitted in August, in an internal discussion document<\/a> that it has concerns about its waning support, following the general elections in May last year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ANC\u2019s leadership status and role are under threat; and other political forces From the last two national elections, the ANC has shed support, coming down from 69.7% in 2004, to 65.9% in 2009 and 62.2% in 2014, it said.<\/p>\n ANC membership has also dwindled from over one million\u00a0to just above 789,000 over the last couple of years, president Jacob Zuma said at the party\u2019s national general council (NGC) in 2015.<\/p>\n Read: These are the places to watch in the 2016 elections in SA<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n According to a survey published by international research firm Afrobarometer<\/a>, in Gauteng, the approval rating for president Zuma has dropped to 23% \u2013 joint last out of nine provinces.<\/p>\n However, approval for the premier in Gauteng is at 52% \u2013 fifth highest, while for Local government councillors, its at 31% \u2013 third worst.<\/p>\n The ruling party\u2019s popularity in the City of Joburg waned substantially in the 2014 elections, down more than 10% from 2009, to 52.3%, from 62.35% in 2009.<\/p>\n In the 2011 local elections it won 58.56%.<\/p>\n I\u2019m not going anywhere: Zuma<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Why the ANC could lose Gauteng<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n E-toll review due to ANC losing votes in Gauteng: reports<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n
\nseek to exploit its weaknesses to dislodge it,\u201d the document said.<\/p>\nMore on politics in SA<\/h3>\n