Zuma fires ministers, suspends police chief

PRETORIA - South African President Jacob Zuma yesterday fired two cabinet ministers implicated in graft and suspended the country's police chief in an attempt to dispel criticism that he is soft on corruption in his government.

Zuma's administration has been charged with endemic corruption most prominently by one of its closest allies, the labour federation Cosatu, which is a long-time backer of the ruling African National Congress and a governing partner.

Zuma told reporters that Co-operative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka and Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde will leave cabinet.

Shiceka was suspected of spending US$74 220 on unsanctioned luxury travel including overseas visits to a girlfriend imprisoned in Switzerland for drug smuggling.

Nkabinde and police commissioner Bheki Cele, who is not in the cabinet, were named in a government-sanctioned report for suspected illegal conduct in property rental deals.

Zuma said Cele has been suspended on full pay with immediate effect pending the outcome of a board of inquiry into allegations of illegal conduct.

There have been almost no major prosecutions for corruption under Zuma even though the president and ANC officials have made it a top priority to root out criminality eating away at the government of Africa's largest economy.