Now all eyes will be on alliance members and an anti-Zuma faction within the ANC.
President Zuma has survived another motion for him to step down at the ANC national executive committee meeting at the weekend.
The motion is believed to have been raised on Saturday during the meeting of senior ANC leaders – held between Friday and Sunday at the St Georges Hotel on the outskirts of Pretoria.
Sources within the NEC said 18 members spoke in support of the motion, with 54 against it.
The motion, a second in less than a year, was tabled by ANC veteran Joel Netshitendze. This comes weeks after the ANC’s alliance partners – the South African Communist Party and labour federation Cosatu – called for him to step down as the country’s president following his unpopular Cabinet reshuffle which saw competent ministers sacrificed while under performing ministers remained.
The first motion for Zuma to resign was tabled by former tourism minister Derek Hanekom, who was later sacked by Zuma.
While Zuma has survived, he still has to face another motion of no confidence by members of Parliament sometime this year. The motion of no confidence in Parliament was tabled by the Democratic Alliance.
The impeachment case by the Economic Freedom Fighters is expected to be heard in the Constitutional Court on September 5.
ANC insiders say Zuma was prepared to step down after the ANC elective conference in December where a new leader is expected to succeed him.
The meeting decided to open the succession debate, with nominations for new leaders only starting in September.
The meeting also endorsed the top Six officials’ proposal that the Eskom decision to reappoint Brian Molefe be reversed.
The 18 members who supported the motion were:
- Pravin Gordhan
- Joel Netshitendze
- Joe Paahla
- Aaron Motsoaledi
- Philly “Mr Cash” Mapulane
- Susan van der Merwe
- Tito Mboweni
- Thulas Nxesi
- Blade Nzimande
- Paul Mashatile
- Fikile Xasa
- Oscar Mabuyane
- Jackson Mthembu
- Enoch Godongwana
- Siyabonga Cwele
- Rob Davies
- Gugile Nkwinti
- Mathole Motshekga