In a speech delivered at midday yesterday at the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Durban campus, he called on President Thabo Mbeki to ask his deputy to resign.
Leon said Mbeki should also extend the terms of reference of the Hefer Commission, appointed by the president to investigate allegations of spying made against National Director of Public Prosecutions head, Bulelani Ngcuka.
The DA leader criticised recent robust exchanges between Zuma and Ngcuka, who have been at loggerheads since the Scorpions investigations unit announced it was investigating Zuma on bribery allegations related to the arms deal.
"The ANC has ceased to behave like a government at all. It is starting to behave like the Mafia. Its bloody vendettas are now being fought out in public, and the bodies are, metaphorically, piling up".
Leon said a "glaring absence of leadership" had emerged from the Zuma/Ngcuka saga.
"In the 68 days since the list of questions posed to Deputy President Zuma were first leaked to the media, President Mbeki has been out of the country no fewer than eight times.
He has delegated power to no fewer than three acting presidents.
"His silence and lack of political will has allowed the politics of loyalty to rip the ANC apart, and severely damage the South African justice system in the process," he said.
Mbeki had to ask Zuma to step down, "At least temporarily, in the event that the deputy president chooses to take legal action against the Scorpions to clear his name.
"For despite his personal merits, Deputy President Zuma has become a political liability, both to the ANC and the country".
On the Hefer Commission, Leon said this should also be asked to investigate:
- whether Ngcuka was responsible for leaks by the Scorpions to the media;
- whether Ngcuka convened off-the-record briefings with the media to discuss specific cases; and,
- whether Ngcuka was subjected to political influence in his decision not to prosecute Zuma. – Sapa.
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