From VOA via Citizen TV

South Africa’s president, Jacob Zuma, has survived yet another vote of no confidence in parliament.

The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), presented the motion, arguing that indications Zuma allowed the powerful Gupta family to choose Cabinet members shows he is a threat to the country’s stability.

Last week, South Africa’s state watchdog agency recommended that a judicial commission investigate the relationship that Zuma and some state officials had with the Guptas, a business family of Indian immigrants accused of meddling in the government for financial benefit, according to the Associated Press.

But when it came time to vote, the ANC used its majority to keep Zuma afloat.

“The voting summary is as follows; the Yes is 126, No is 214, abstain is one, not voted is 58,” said Deputy Speaker Lecheba Tsenoli, announcing the outcome. “The motion is therefore not agreed to.”

Robust debate

The debate Thursday was frank. From the start, opposition parties raised numerous points of order calling for the vote to be decided through a secret ballot, to protect members of the ruling African National Congress party who might want to vote Zuma out. Some ANC members have urged Zuma to resign.

“A vote against this motion is a vote for state capture, it is a vote for corruption, it is a vote for theft, it is a vote for power abuse,” said Mmusi Maimane, the DA leader.

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