ANC lawmakers to oppose no-confidence motion against Zuma

Members of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress will oppose a motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma in parliament set for April 18, the party said on Thursday.

“We will abide by the decision of the ANC National Working Committee as announced by ANC Secretary General comrade Gwede Mantashe that the ANC does not and will not support this motion,” said a statement from ANC’s parliamentary chief whip.

Previous no-confidence motions against Zuma have failed as the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party has a commanding majority.

The ANC on Wednesday backed Jacob Zuma and described the criticism levelled against the president by top party officials as a mistake.

“We must find it adult enough to close the door, beat each other up, if you find me with a blue eye, I must develop a narrative that I bumped a pole rather than going public with disagreements,” ANC Secretary General Gwede Mantashe who also criticised Zuma, said at a news conference.

South African opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has received the backing of firebrand Julius Malema’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party to table the motion of no confidence against Zuma for the reshuffle.