Zuma goes rogue

• Will ANC expel him? • MPs to decide

If he doesn’t fall on his sword by 2pm, a motion of no confidence will commence.

In a rare show of unity among political foes, all parties represented in parliament have agreed – today is D-Day for President Jacob Zuma. During an urgent meeting of parliament’s programming committee yesterday afternoon, opposition parties accepted a proposal by the ruling ANC that if Zuma does not fall on his sword before a scheduled 2pm National Assembly sitting today, a motion of no confidence will commence.

“We agree, as well, on the proposed programme that on Thursday we deal with the motion of no confidence and Friday the State of the Nation address, of course after the election of a new president, and then Monday the debate [on the Sona] and then Tuesday the response [by the new president] and Wednesday the budget speech by the new minister of finance,” said Floyd Shivambu, chief whip of the country’s third-largest political party, the EFF, which tabled the motion.

Shivambu said they did not oppose the motion being brought forward so the ANC could table an amended motion of no confidence because the result would be the same – Zuma’s ouster from the Union Buildings.

“Let the ANC be open with its proposed amendment of the motion so that we don’t have unnecessary wrangles in parliament on an amended motion ... because all of us agree on the essence of the discontinuation of the presidency of Jacob Zuma.”

The United Democratic Movement’s Nqabayomzi Kwankwa said uncertainty must end and the parliamentary programme, which has been in limbo since the ANC tried, unsuccessfully, to get Zuma to step down, must resume.

“We, indeed, also agree with the proposed programme because we want the business of parliament to resume again on matters that affect our people, instead of focusing on petty political matters,” said Kwankwa.

If Zuma does resign – which he had up until last night, showed no intention of doing – ANC chiefwhip Jackson Mthembu said the motion would fall away, but the National Assembly would still proceed with electing a new president on Friday.

“If, for some or whatever reason, we do get a letter [of resignation], because Valentine’s Day you should have a letter coming to you, we still have a Friday [sitting of the House],” said Mthembu.

Zuma was sent a letter of recall by the ANC, the party which deployed him to the presidency in 2009. – ANA

Pictures: SABC DEFIANT. President Jacob Zuma yesterday breaks his silence about his recall, claiming he ‘feels victimised’ and did ‘nothing wrong’ – but the ANC is adamant it is forging ahead to get rid of him today.

Picture: AFP HE’S GOING. ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile, left, and chief whip Jackson Mthembu in Cape Town yesterday during a press conference to discuss President Jacob Zuma’s options.