Reprieve came the way of the embattled South Africa President Jacob Zuma as he survived a no confidence vote in the parliament.
The motion, brought by the Democratic Alliance saw 198 Members of Parliament voting for Zuma to stay and 177 voting for him to go from a total of 384 votes. Nine MPs abstained after votes were counted in full view of the chamber.
On Monday, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete announced that the motion will be by secret ballot. “I, therefore, determine that voting on the motion of no confidence in the President on 8 August 2017 will be by secret ballot.”
Opposition parties had wanted a secret ballot to protect African National Congress (ANC) members from any retribution if they vote against the President. The Speaker did not participate in the motion this was because whoever presides over a meeting of the National Assembly does not cast a deliberative vote except where a two-thirds majority is required according to Section 53 of the South African Constitution. Speaker Mbete would have been required to make a casting vote if the outcome is equally split between those for and against.
President Zuma, 75 has been mired in corruption scandal. today’s no confidence vote is the 8th that he will survived since he came to power in 2009
