Zuma minister pressed on Mercedes

South Africa's new Transport Minister Sbu Ndebele is coming under strong pressure to return a Mercedes Benz car he was given by contractors.

Opposition groups, as well as allies of the ruling ANC, have told Mr Ndebele to "do the right thing".

Mr Ndebele argues he has done nothing wrong, saying the gift was not solicited and that it was planned before he was named minister.

President Jacob Zuma has pledged to be tough on corruption.

Mr Ndebele was given the car, worth around $120,000 (£77,000), at a farewell party for him in Pietermaritzburg before he left to join the national government.

Vukuzakhe contractors made the gift to thank him for helping small companies while he was provincial transport minister in KwaZulu-Natal from 1994-2004. During that time Vukuzakhe won contracts worth nearly $50m (£32m).

Mr Ndebele was also given a herd of cattle at the event. No-one has suggested whether or not the livestock should be returned.

He says he has informed Mr Zuma about the gift and is waiting for the president to decide whether or not he should keep it.

Thorny problem

Malesela Maleka, spokesperson for the South African Communist Party, which is in government with the ANC, said Mr Ndebele should give back the car.

"Things such as this gift for Ndebele, as a matter of principle, even a gift from one's uncle who is in business, should be scrutinised very carefully," he said.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance also says the car should be returned.

The BBC's Mohammed Allie in Cape Town says that given his own long and eventually successful battle to have charges of corruption and fraud against him dropped, President Zuma faces a thorny problem over whether to allow his transport minister to keep his expensive car or whether to live up to his promise of clean government.