Ruling party MPs who voted for Zuma ‘betrayed the nation’:
THE members of parliament who voted to keep President Jacob Zuma in power have betrayed the country‚ Future SA said.
“To those who continue to support state capture‚ an increasingly corrupt government‚ and the narrow interests of a few‚ we say: history will judge you accordingly‚” Future SA said shortly after the failed no-confidence motion against Zuma.
“You have betrayed the hopes of South Africans. You have tied the fortunes of the ANC to Zuma’s corrupt moral code‚” the group of civil society organisations said.
It praised the ANC MPs who voted with the opposition against Zuma.
Future SA had held protests across the country ahead of the motion of no confidence. It called for campaigns against state capture to continue‚ regardless of yesterday’s defeat.
“Following today’s vote‚ we believe that efforts against state capture on all fronts must be intensified‚ as must our campaigns to reclaim South Africa.
“While today’s motion against Zuma may not have succeeded‚ the fact that a number of ANC MPs have either voted in favour of the motion or abstained is an indication that Zuma no longer enjoys the full support of a significant number of members of his own party.
“It is an indication that while he retains power‚ his base is certainly weakening.”
A political analyst said it would have been politically dangerous for Zuma to have been ousted through a secret ballot.
“His supporters would have been up in arms‚ saying it was a ‘backdoor victory’‚” Professor Daryl Glaser‚ head of Wits political studies, said.
Glaser said the opposition could celebrate their victory.
“The opposition can celebrate that there are clear divisions in the ANC, but we already knew that.
“Their consolation can be the fact that Zuma’s support is a bit weaker‚” he said.
“A large majority still support Zuma though and we will never know who and why.”
Glaser said the number of defectors was higher than expected, although it was never clear-cut whether there was any prospect of success for the opposition.
Political analyst Ralph Mathekga‚ however‚ said it would be wise if the ANC’s move to save Zuma came with terms and conditions. “It cannot be that the ANC saved him without any conditions.
“It cannot be that they saved him for the sake of it. What will be different now?”
He said the vote came as no surprise‚ adding that it was “the work of the ANC caucus”.
Johannesburg mayor Herman Mashaba tweeted: “This vote by 80% of the ANC must drive us to be more resolute to save South Africa.”
Outa chairman Wayne Duvenhage said: “The vote to keep Zuma in power is a vote for corruption.
“The Constitutional Court rulings and evidence from several reports on state capture show that Jacob Zuma is not fit for public office.”
In recent weeks, Outa has filed charges against a number of ministers and officials in connection with state capture activity and said it would continue to do so.
Outa chief operating officer Ben Theron said: “Our country is burning but our MPs ignore this.
“South Africa is at its lowest point and civil society will have to work harder to hold government accountable.
“By ignoring the evidence of state capture and corruption‚ the MPs associate themselves with it.”
Duvenage said: “The president is now living on borrowed time and is spending far too much time having to deal with his own crisis of legitimacy.
“Very little of Zuma’s time is directed at dealing with this country’s problems and challenges.”
The UDM said it accepted the result of yesterday’s vote on the motion of no confidence in Zuma‚ but was perturbed by it.
“The people of South Africa have been shown the middle-finger for the eighth time‚” UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said.
“The battle to save South Africa is not over though. The UDM will join the Economic Freedom Fighters’ court proceedings for Mr Zuma’s impeachment.
“We shall also intensify our campaigns on the streets‚ in parliament‚ and everywhere‚ for as long as Mr Zuma remains in office.
“South Africans can now see the difference between those who stand for the truth and those who stand for the looting of the country’s resources meant to alleviate poverty and erase unemployment.”