After years of wrangling
President Jacob Zuma survived a no-confidence vote on Thursday, after the public protector called in the State of Capture report for a judicial inquiry into allegations of influence-peddling in the government.
The scandal highlighted in the report has rattled investors and raised the risk of the economy’s credit ratings being downgraded.
Zuma (74) had the support of the AN, which controls about two-thirds of the 400-member National Assembly. He has already survived a no-confidence motion and an impeachment vote this year, related to other scandals.
“I think the nos have it,” deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli ruled, after ANC MPs voted against the motion and burst into song in support of Zuma.
The Democratic Alliance (DA), which called the no-confidence motion against Zuma over what it described as his “reckless leadership”, asked for a re-count of the vote.
Zuma, who was not in the National Assembly, won with 214 MPs voting against the motion, while 126 voted in favour and one abstained, a result that mirrored his victory in March.
In his speech supporting the motion, DA leader Mmusi Maimane urged MPs to “stand up against state capture,” while Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane said the motion was “ill-conceived and bound to fail”.
The vote comes after the public protector called for a judicial inquiry into allegations of corruption in Zuma’s government in a report released last week.
Zuma denies allegations that he granted undue influence to the Gupta family of business tycoons, who run a business empire from media to mining, or anyone else. The Guptas have also denied any wrongdoing. – Reuters