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Growing calls for motion of no confidence in Zuma

Xinhua, March 31, 2017 Adjust font size:

Calls grew on Friday for an urgent sitting of Parliament to debate a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma following a drastic cabinet reshuffle.

The opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) said it has written to Parliament Speaker Baleke Mbete for this purpose.

The Ahmed Kathrada Foundation, together with the Nelson Mandela Foundation, added their voices to the DA's call, urging ministers and leaders of the African National Congress (ANC) to speak up and call on the president, in the best interests of the country, to step down.

The DA tabled a motion of no confidence in Zuma on March 30 after hearing that Zuma would sack Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan in a cabinet reshuffle.

"A debate on this crucial motion simply cannot wait and it should be scheduled for next week," the DA said on Friday.

Zuma effected the reshuffle early Friday in what was believed to be one of his most drastic moves during his tenure.

The reshuffle affected 10 ministers and 10 deputy ministers, notably Gordhan.

The move plunged the country into chaos and caused division among the ranks of the ANC.

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and ANC Secretary General Gwete Mantashe both voiced objection to the reshuffle.

But the government issued a statement on Friday, expressing support for the reshuffle.

The reshuffle is aligned to improving efficiency and effectiveness in the system and the government is confident that the ministers and their deputies will hit the ground running to ensure the continuity of government programs to realize Vision 2030, which is to eliminate poverty and reduce inequality, government spokesperson Donald Liphoko said.

Parliament has not responded to the call for the no confidence vote.

For a vote of no confidence motion to be successful, it requires 201 of the 400 National Assembly MPs to vote in favour.

If the motion is successful, then the president, his deputy, cabinet ministers and all their deputies must resign as provided for in section 102 of the constitution.

Zuma has survived at least two no confidence motions in Parliament, dominated by ANC MPs. Endit