South African president withstands crucial no-confidence vote, despite party fracture
JOHANNESBURG— President Jacob Zuma survived a no-confidence vote Tuesday, in the most serious of multiple attempts to unseat him after months of growing anger in South Africa over alleged corruption and a sinking economy. But his African National Congress party, which has ruled since the end of apartheid, continued to fracture.
The latest vote to try to dislodge Zuma was the first held by secret ballot after parliamentary Speaker Baleka Mbete made the surprise decision to allow it. Opposition parties hoped it would encourage ANC legislators to vote against Zuma without fear of retaliation.
A jubilant Zuma, who would have had to resign with his Cabinet if the motion had succeeded, promised the ANC would win the next election in 2019 “in a big number once again.” He dismissed “propaganda” that said his party no longer has the people’s support. Then he broke into song.
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.
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.
More than a quarter of the country’s workers are unemployed.