SA ex-president Mbeki wades into Zuma no-confidence vote

PRETORIA

South Africa’s ex-leader Thabo Mbeki on Tuesday waded into a no-confidence debate against President Jacob Zuma, urging lawmakers to set aside political affiliation during next week’s vote.

A parliamentary motion of no confidence in the president is due on April 18 following the controversial sacking of respected finance minister Pravin Gordhan last month.

Mr Zuma has easily survived previous such votes against him, thanks to the majority the ruling African National Congress enjoys in parliament.

But in an article that extensively quoted the country’s constitution, Mr Mbeki said it is “obvious and logical” that lawmakers “must act in parliament as the voice of the people, not the voice of the political parties to which they belong.”

“It may be that the current controversy has’ at last, imposed on our country the opportunity and obligation the better to define the constitutional and moral relationship between the people and their elected representatives,” he said in an article published by The Star daily.

TRIGGERED CRITICISM

Mr Gordhan’s removal has triggered unprecedented criticism from ANC leaders, including Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as well as the party’s chief whip, its treasurer and several ANC allies.

But days later, after a party meeting, the ANC threw its weight behind Mr Zuma and vowed to shoot down the no-confidence motion brought by the opposition.

Mr Mbeki, who succeeded Mr Mandela as president in 1999, was himself recalled by the ANC in September 2008 before the end of his second term and Mr Zuma took over.

But Mr Zuma’s presidency has been dogged by corruption scandals and has widened divisions in the party and heightened calls for his resignation.

Tens of thousands of protesters marched through South African cities on Friday demanding Zuma step down. More anti-Zuma demonstrations are planned for Wednesday in the capital Pretoria.

STEP DOWN

Zuma, who turns 75 on Wednesday, is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, and as president ahead of the 2019 general election.

The National Assembly‚ which is in recess until the beginning of May‚ will hold a special sitting on April 18 to debate the motion. 

The opposition Democratic Alliance tabled the motion following President Zuma’s Cabinet reshuffle two weeks ago in which he axed Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his deputy Mcebisi Jonas. 

The ANC last week made it clear its MPs will vote against the motion.  “The ANC in Parliament will vote against the motion of no confidence on President Jacob Zuma by opposition parties‚“ the ANC chief whip’s spokesperson‚ Nonceba Mhlauli‚ said.

All opposition parties have vowed to vote in favour of the motion and appealed to the ANC to do the same, as the party has the majority vote in Parliament.

The decision to axe Mr Gordhan sent the rand and markets into a tailspin. It was followed by a downgrade to so-called “junk status” by ratings agencies Fitch, and Standard and Poor’s, along with nationwide protests against President Zuma.