South African police target business family linked to Zuma


              Secretary General of the African National Congress, (ANC) Ace Magashule, makes a statement at a briefing at the ANC headquarters in downtoan Johannesburg, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. Magashule said the scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma must leave office. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)
Secretary General of the African National Congress, (ANC) Ace Magashule, makes a statement at a briefing at the ANC headquarters in downtoan Johannesburg, Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. Magashule said the scandal-tainted President Jacob Zuma must leave office. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - South African police have raided the residential compound of a business family suspected of using its ties to President Jacob Zuma to influence Cabinet appointments and land state contracts.

Agents from the Hawks, an elite police investigative unit, on Wednesday entered the compound of the Gupta family in Saxonwold, an affluent neighborhood in Johannesburg.

The raid happened as the ruling African National Congress Party awaited a response from Zuma after instructing him on Tuesday to quit office because of a series of scandals.

The Gupta business family has been a flashpoint for national anger over corruption in state enterprises during Zuma's tenure. A judicial commission is preparing to investigate the alleged graft.

Zuma and the Guptas deny wrongdoing.

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