Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Jacob Zuma survives no-confidence vote in South African parliament
Source: The Guardian
Jacob Zuma survives no-confidence vote in South African parliament
Coalition of opposition parties and renegade ANC MPs unable to gain majority needed to oust South African president
Simon Allison in Johannesburg
Tuesday 8 August 2017 17.58 BST
The South African president, Jacob Zuma, has narrowly survived a motion of no confidence against him in parliament.
It was the sixth such vote of his increasingly beleaguered presidency. In a secret ballot, a broad coalition of opposition parties and renegade MPs from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) were unable to muster the simple majority needed to remove the president. 198 MPs voted against the motion of no confidence, which would have forced Zuma and his cabinet to resign immediately.
The ballot counting was accompanied by scenes of singing and dancing on both sides of the assembly, as rival parties sought to project confidence. “We taught you this song, and you don’t even sing it properly,” jeered Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, dressed in signature red overalls, addressing his ANC counterparts.
Baleka Mbete, the speaker of parliament, announced the result: 198 MPs voted against, compared to 177 in favour. There were nine abstentions. “Therefore the motion of no confidence in the president is accordingly negative,” declared Mbete.
-snip-
Coalition of opposition parties and renegade ANC MPs unable to gain majority needed to oust South African president
Simon Allison in Johannesburg
Tuesday 8 August 2017 17.58 BST
The South African president, Jacob Zuma, has narrowly survived a motion of no confidence against him in parliament.
It was the sixth such vote of his increasingly beleaguered presidency. In a secret ballot, a broad coalition of opposition parties and renegade MPs from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) were unable to muster the simple majority needed to remove the president. 198 MPs voted against the motion of no confidence, which would have forced Zuma and his cabinet to resign immediately.
The ballot counting was accompanied by scenes of singing and dancing on both sides of the assembly, as rival parties sought to project confidence. “We taught you this song, and you don’t even sing it properly,” jeered Economic Freedom Fighters leader Julius Malema, dressed in signature red overalls, addressing his ANC counterparts.
Baleka Mbete, the speaker of parliament, announced the result: 198 MPs voted against, compared to 177 in favour. There were nine abstentions. “Therefore the motion of no confidence in the president is accordingly negative,” declared Mbete.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/08/jacob-zuma-survives-no-confidence-vote-south-african-president