South Africa's main opposition party urges ANC lawmakers to vote Zuma out

Record ID: 905510

  • Title: South Africa's main opposition party urges ANC lawmakers to vote Zuma out
  • Date: 7th August 2017
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - JUNE 2, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NEWSPAPER HEADLINES ABOUT ZUMA AND CORRUPTION JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DA SUPPORTERS MARCHING AGAINST ZUMA PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA (FILE - APRIL 7, 2017) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF CIVIL SOCIETY GROUPS MARCHING AGAINST ZUMA / SINGING (Zulu): "Zuma you are a liar!"
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2017 23:00
  • Keywords: no-confidence vote Zuma corruption parliament secret ballot
  • Location: CAPE TOWN, JOHANNESBURG & PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City: CAPE TOWN, JOHANNESBURG & PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0036T5SU2V
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT IS A REPLACEMENT FOR 1200-SAFRICA-POLITICS/OPPOSITION
    South African opposition parties the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters on Monday (August 7) urged ruling party lawmakers to vote President Jacob Zuma out, after the speaker of South Africa's parliament ruled that a motion of no-confidence in Zuma will be held through a secret ballot.
    Zuma's critics wanted the no confidence vote to be anonymous, hoping it will embolden ANC lawmakers to support his removal by shielding them from pressure from other party members.
    Parliament will vote on the motion on Tuesday and if it succeeds, Zuma, in power since 2009, and his entire cabinet would have to step down.
    Speaker Baleka Mbete, who is also the ANC national chairwoman, told a news conference that her decision was meant to ensure the outcome of vote was credible. ANC has vowed to back Zuma in parliament.
    Eight previous no-confidence motions against Zuma have failed as the ANC has a commanding majority in parliament, but they were all held through an open process.
    Zuma's sacking of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan in March shook South African markets, undermining his authority and threatening to split the ANC which has governed since the end of apartheid in 1994. The economy slid into recession in March and was downgraded to "junk" status by two ratings agencies.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2017. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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