No confidence motion against Zuma fails, again

Parliament – A motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma has failed, again.

The motion was brought by the DA on Tuesday in the wake of the financial ministry reshuffle.

The motion failed when 225 MPs voted against it, and 99 in favour.

Twenty-two chose to abstain.

In a robust debate in the National Assembly on Wednesday, political parties booed, shouted and called each other names as they debated Zuma's fitness for office.

Opposition parties pleaded with the ANC to let President Jacob Zuma go, while the ruling party sang his praises.

Small business development minister Lindiwe Zulu said Zuma, like the ruling party, was born of struggle and resistance.

The minister threw the ANC's struggle credentials at the opposition party.

"You like it, you don't like it. We liberated you from your shackles," she said.

She said the international community had confidence in Zuma and his leadership, and opposition parties could not change that.

"This should be a motion against the opposition," she said.

United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said the country had voted for the ANC, and they had given the country Zuma.

He said it was their responsibility to now "take him back".

Inkatha Freedom Party leader Mangosuthu Buthelezi noted the futility of the motion and said the ANC would use their majority to vote against the motion.

The Democratic Alliance called Zuma a "one-man wrecking ball" and a "sellout".

DA leader Mmusi Maimane said ANC members had stopped looking at what was best for South Africa.

Congress of the People's Willie Madisha, who ended up being asked to leave the house, said the ruling party MPs carried the full blame for funding a government that was too big and too bloated.

He used the firing of former finance minister Nhlanhla Nene as the basis of his argument that the country should get a new president.

When his time was up, the MP refused to leave and instead continued with his speech.

An irate deputy speaker Lechesa Tsenoli asked if he was deaf.

African People's Convention’s Themba Godi said they did not have any confidence in the DA.

He called the motion frivolous and said it brought nothing new.

"Yes we agree President Zuma must go at the end his term."

Economic Freedom Fighters MPs chose not to participate in the debate, choosing to instead sit quietly throughout the loud exchanges.

This article first appeared on News24 – see here.