File: President Jacob Zuma faces a no-confidence vote by secret ballot in Parliament on Tuesday.
CAPE TOWN - President Jacob Zuma has survived the much-anticipated vote of no confidence in him, debated in Parliament on Tuesday.
UPDATED STORY- Jacob Zuma survives motion of no confidence
Proceedings in Parliament were adjourned to allow members of Parliament (MPs) to cast their vote for or against President Jacob Zuma.
On Monday, National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete announced she had heeded the call for a secret ballot.
Opposition parties have called her decision historic.
Leaders of the opposition say all MPs -- regardless of their political affiliation -- are protected in Tuesday's vote.
DA leader Mmusi Maimane said Zuma was unfit to hold the highest office in South Africa.
The ANC caucus in Parliament met on Tuesday morning to deliberate before the motion of no confidence debate.
Party chief whip Jackson Mthembu insisted the motion would be defeated.
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema said the vote of no confidence was not against the governing party, just against its leader, Zuma.
Zuma has been in office for eight years.
United Democratic Movement (UDM) leader Bantu Holomisa told MPs they had no excuse to not vote against Zuma because a secret ballot provides a safety net for them.
According to Holomisa, “We have to seize the opportunity to put the people and the country first. In this regard, let us vote against the abuse of power. The infamous intelligence report ... Let us vote against Mr Zuma, the chief architect of state capture.”
Today at 2pm: National Assembly Plenary.
— Parliament of RSA (@ParliamentofRSA) August 8, 2017
Order Paper: https://t.co/KHS92eTaH2
Draft resolution (The Leader of the Opposition): pic.twitter.com/r8SKurvK40
ANC MP Pule Mabe called the motion of no confidence frivolous.
“Any serious motion brought against a president needs to be well researched and backed by substantiated and verified reports, not gossip and hear-say.," she said.
