Zuma sacks two for corruption

South African president Jacob Zuma has fired two cabinet ministers and suspended the national police chief in an apparent attempt to dispel criticism that he has been soft on corruption within his government.

Sicelo Shiceka, co-operative governance minister, whose office oversees local administrations, and public works minister Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde will leave government.

Police commissioner Bheki Cele who is not in the cabinet, was suspended on full pay pending an inquiry, Mr Zuma added.

All three have been accused of abuse of office by an anti-corruption body, which recommended that the president take action against them.

With his standing in the ruling African National Congress at an all-time low ahead of an election for the ANC leadership in just over 14 months, Mr Zuma appeared to be responding to complaints, most notably from his allies in the trade union federation Cosatu, of endemic corruption in his administration.

Mr Shiceka was suspected of spending 600,000 rand (£48,000) on luxury travel, including overseas visits to a girlfriend imprisoned in Switzerland for drug-smuggling.

Mr Nkabinde and Mr Cele were named in a report for suspected illegal conduct in property rental deals.