President Jacob Zuma burst into song and danced with ANC MPs at the conclusion of their caucus meeting in parliament hours before they voted in the National Assembly against the eighth motion of no confidence in his leadership.
Zuma appeared assured of his survival, as if he knew his members of parliament (MPs) would vote to keep him in power.
Zuma’s jubilant body language was in contrast to a tumultous outpouring of dissent and calls for him to go – even within the ANC.
Speaking outside parliament after the vote, Zuma thanked all provincial leaders who supported him.
“I’ve just come to thank you. Those comrades in parliament came in the numbers demonstrate that the ANC is powerful and big. It’s difficult to defeat the ANC.”
He said masses voted the ANC into power, and no other party enjoyed such support.
“You know these days even white people go to the streets to protest to try and boost their numbers. It is their own imagination that the ANC does not enjoy majority support. They will see in 2019 when the ANC once again enjoys the majority vote,” added Zuma.
While the ANC was hoping for an outright win, they managed only 198 votes against the 177 votes against Zuma and nine abstentions of the total 384 votes cast.
The results showed that at least 26 ANC MPs must have voted for the motion if all 151 MPs on opposition benches voted for it.
Immediately after parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete announced the results the opposition benches broke out in jubilation – they thought they had won.
Earlier an ANC caucus meeting was called to issue the final voting command to the party’s 249 MPs.
Secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and chief whip Jackson Mthembu delivered the orders.
Only Mantashe and Mthembu spoke at the meeting, which took just over an hour, in sharp contrast to the usual practice of caucus meetings where MPs are free to express themselves.
Neither Zuma nor his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, spoke.
“I’m in charge. I decide who is going to speak – the person who was tasked with speaking was the secretary-general of the ANC on this matter,” said Mthembu, adding that Zuma only partook in song and dance at the end of the meeting.
He said a briefing by Mantashe ended with “a party line that we are voting against this motion, was again for the umpteenth time, accepted by caucus without any dissident.”
An ANC MP said Zuma arrived at the caucus shortly after Mantashe began his briefing.
“There was no need to have a lengthy discussion. That’s very good. We have a line. We were listening to Mantashe when the president came in. People have to be engaged and to hold the line,” said the MP.
He said MPs such as the outspoken Makhosi Khoza, and others who said they would be voting with their conscience, were told to the toe the line.
“They can see this thing is getting more serious. They were told you don’t that in the ANC,” said the MP.
Another MP, earlier listed as one of those who would rebel, said the National Assembly was “not the best place to deal with those concerns, everyone agrees”.
Mthembu there was no need to ask MPs for a loyalty pledge as they understood what was expected of them.
Zuma’s wife Tobeka took to Instagram to gloat last night, saying Zuma was still president and would remain so until 2019.
Speaking after the announcement UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said the party would be joining the EFF in pursuing an impeachment process against Zuma.
He said he was surprised that 30 ANC MPs voted against Zuma. — DDC
How Zuma survived 8th no-confidence vote
Zuma appeared assured of his survival, as if he knew his members of parliament (MPs) would vote to keep him in power.
Zuma’s jubilant body language was in contrast to a tumultous outpouring of dissent and calls for him to go – even within the ANC.
Speaking outside parliament after the vote, Zuma thanked all provincial leaders who supported him.
“I’ve just come to thank you. Those comrades in parliament came in the numbers demonstrate that the ANC is powerful and big. It’s difficult to defeat the ANC.”
He said masses voted the ANC into power, and no other party enjoyed such support.
“You know these days even white people go to the streets to protest to try and boost their numbers. It is their own imagination that the ANC does not enjoy majority support. They will see in 2019 when the ANC once again enjoys the majority vote,” added Zuma.
While the ANC was hoping for an outright win, they managed only 198 votes against the 177 votes against Zuma and nine abstentions of the total 384 votes cast.
The results showed that at least 26 ANC MPs must have voted for the motion if all 151 MPs on opposition benches voted for it.
Immediately after parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete announced the results the opposition benches broke out in jubilation – they thought they had won.
Earlier an ANC caucus meeting was called to issue the final voting command to the party’s 249 MPs.
Secretary-general Gwede Mantashe and chief whip Jackson Mthembu delivered the orders.
Only Mantashe and Mthembu spoke at the meeting, which took just over an hour, in sharp contrast to the usual practice of caucus meetings where MPs are free to express themselves.
Neither Zuma nor his deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, spoke.
“I’m in charge. I decide who is going to speak – the person who was tasked with speaking was the secretary-general of the ANC on this matter,” said Mthembu, adding that Zuma only partook in song and dance at the end of the meeting.
He said a briefing by Mantashe ended with “a party line that we are voting against this motion, was again for the umpteenth time, accepted by caucus without any dissident.”
An ANC MP said Zuma arrived at the caucus shortly after Mantashe began his briefing.
“There was no need to have a lengthy discussion. That’s very good. We have a line. We were listening to Mantashe when the president came in. People have to be engaged and to hold the line,” said the MP.
He said MPs such as the outspoken Makhosi Khoza, and others who said they would be voting with their conscience, were told to the toe the line.
“They can see this thing is getting more serious. They were told you don’t that in the ANC,” said the MP.
Another MP, earlier listed as one of those who would rebel, said the National Assembly was “not the best place to deal with those concerns, everyone agrees”.
Mthembu there was no need to ask MPs for a loyalty pledge as they understood what was expected of them.
Zuma’s wife Tobeka took to Instagram to gloat last night, saying Zuma was still president and would remain so until 2019.
Speaking after the announcement UDM leader Bantu Holomisa said the party would be joining the EFF in pursuing an impeachment process against Zuma.
He said he was surprised that 30 ANC MPs voted against Zuma. — DDC
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending Now
Latest Videos