Jacob Zuma and Dubai

The UAE, Dubai in particular, is frequently in the news and it’s not always for good things. If we read the UK’s “Daily Mail” there are often stories about people who are imprisoned because they are caught kissing in public for example. While all the stories are undoubtedly true, it shows how knowing the rules matter; when you live in a city-state like Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Sharjah, you soon learn that the rules are much stricter than they appear for a tourist passing through.

 Foreign dignitaries frequently touch down in the country. President Trump has given his name to a building and a golf course in Dubai developed by the emirate’s DAMAC but he is unlikely to stay for very long.

 This would be unlike the ruling class of Pakistan society, all of whom have made Dubai their home. Many of the rulers from around the world, especially Central Asia, reside in Dubai. And the interim rulers of Libya were residing in Abu Dhabi at some stage.

 South Africa’s Jacob Zuma, the country’s leader, is like many others who have moved to Dubai. For the moment, he has not, although he has been accused of wanting to move there. In places like these, influence matters.

 This is what the BBC said on the matter.

South Africa: Jacob Zuma 'plans second home in Dubai'

South Africa's embattled president Jacob Zuma has been planning to set up home in Dubai, according to emails published in South African media.

The reports suggest deepening ties between President Zuma and the controversial Gupta business family.

But the president's spokesman has dismissed them as an utter fabrication.

Pressure on Mr Zuma has been mounting in recent months because of corruption scandals, cabinet sackings and his handling of the economy.

Senior members of Mr Zuma's governing ANC tabled a motion of no confidence against him on Sunday at a closed-door meeting of the party's National Executive Committee.

But the chairman of the meeting blocked the move because it was not on the official agenda, state-owned broadcaster SABC said.

It is the second time in six months that party rebels have mounted such a challenge and they are thought likely to try again.

The BBC's Karen Allen in Johannesburg says the ANC now looks like it's in permanent fire fighting mode.

The president has been criticised for what are alleged to be his close ties to the influential Gupta business family

President Jacob Zuma is coming under increasing pressure to step down

Emails between President Zuma's son Duduzane and figures from a company owned by the controversial Gupta family - who reportedly wield considerable influence over Mr Zuma - include a letter to the Abu Dabi royal family, our correspondent says..

"I am happy to inform you that my family has decided to make the UAE a second home," the president is quoted as saying. "It will be a great honour for me and my family to gain your patronage during our proposed residency in the UAE."

This opens up questions as to whether this is part of an exit strategy, with Mr Zuma's party appearing to be turning against him, our correspondent adds. 

Zuma loyalists will continue their efforts to block any no confidence motion on technical grounds.

A motion submitted by opposition parties is being pushed through parliament and is now being examined by the constitutional court

The president's successor is expected to be selected at a major conference of the ANC's top brass in December.

Until then the party looks set to limp from crisis to crisis, our correspondent says.

Mr Zuma's allies say he will remain in office until his term ends in 2019, but evidence of his unpopularity seems to be growing. He was forced to abandon a May Day rally this year after he was booed by workers demanding his resignation.

His ex-wife Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa are vying to succeed him.