Jacob Zuma had planned a victory speech before the ballots were even cast. Minutes after surviving the fourth vote of no confidence since becoming South Africa’s president, a gleeful Mr Zuma emerged from parliament to sing, dance and rally his supporters. But behind this defiant display on the evening of August 8th was a surprisingly strong challenge to his presidency. For the first time, lawmakers had cast secret ballots in booths on the chamber floor. Though falling short of the simple majority required to oust the president, the final tally of 177 votes to 198, with nine abstentions, was closer than many expected. Some 30 MPs from Mr Zuma’s African National Congress (ANC) are thought to have broken ranks to side with the opposition—an unprecedented rebellion that reveals the extent of unhappiness with his leadership.
Mr Zuma’s political career has been dogged by corruption allegations and personal scandals. The latest (and biggest) controversy centres on claims that he has allowed his wealthy businessman friends, the Gupta brothers, to meddle in cabinet appointments and rake in preferential government contracts. Opposition parties had brought the no-confidence motion in April after Mr Zuma fired a respected finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, and his deputy, and replaced them with ministers seen as inexperienced and pliable. Soon after, credit-rating agencies...Continue reading
Source: Middle East and Africa http://ift.tt/2wIDVLa
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