South Africa’s president survives no-confidence motion

JOHANNESBURG — South African President Jacob Zuma again survived a no-confidence vote in parliament Tuesday in the most serious attempt yet to unseat him after months of growing anger over alleged corruption and a sinking economy, while his party that has ruled since the end of apartheid continued to fracture.

Zuma had survived six previous attempts to dislodge him in parliament, but this was the first to be held by secret ballot after parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete made the surprise decision to allow it. Opposition parties hoped it would encourage legislators with the ruling African National Congress party to vote without fear of retaliation against Zuma, under whose leadership the economy has slipped into recession.

Instead, ANC members in the chamber began singing shortly before the results were announced, while supporters outside started dancing. A jubilant Zuma later promised the ANC would win the next election in 2019 “in a big number once again,” and he dismissed “propaganda” that said his party no longer has the people’s support. Then he broke into song.

“We will never endorse or vote in favour of any motion that seeks to cripple our country,” the ANC said, calling the vote an attempt to remove the party from power.

Of the 384 votes cast, 177 were in favour of the no-confidence motion and 198 were against, with nine abstentions. The no-confidence motion needed 201 votes to succeed.

Dozens of ANC members ended up supporting the no-confidence motion, as the ruling party holds 249 of the 400 parliament seats, five of them currently vacant. Some party members denounced those who voted against Zuma as sellouts, and chief whip Jackson Mthembu said the party would consider disciplining them.

The main opposition Democratic Alliance party said after the vote that “the majority of the ANC have chosen corruption, looting” over the country’s interests.