All eyes on ANC NEC meeting
All eyes will be on President Jacob Zuma's political future this weekend as the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the African National Congress (ANC) meets in Irene.
Opposition to the president reportedly growing within the NEC, with speculation that there could be an attempt to remove President Zuma from his position.
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga says there is no coherence within the party.
"The atmosphere is that people are talking about President Zuma's possible removal. I don't think he is going to take that. I think he is aiming to fight back. The allies will be there to fight back. Come Monday he might remain the president of the ANC," says Matshekga.
Meanwhile, chief economist at Econometrix, Dr Azaar Jammine says he think the speculation of President Zuma's possible removal has helped strengthen the rand.
"There has been a build-up of that kind of sentiments ahead of the NEC and there is a feeling that there may be renewed calls for President Zuma to resign and it is interesting that the moment there are rumours and there were a build-up of perceptions that the chances of him pulling out increase, you tend to get rand strength," says Jammine.
"I think that is what has been driving the latest strengthening of the rand."