South Africa's President Zuma awaits result of no-confidence vote

South Africa's President Zuma awaits result of no-confidence vote

South Africa's President Jacob Zuma is waiting to find out if a motion of no-confidence has passed following a secret vote in parliament.
The governing African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties traded barbs in two hours of heated debate on Tuesday, before voting on the issue.
Mr Zuma has already survived seven no-confidence votes, called for amid repeated allegations of corruption.
But this is the first time it has been held in secret.
In order for the no-confidence motion to pass, at least 50 out of the ANC's 249 MPs would need to vote against the president - leading to opposition parties pleading with ANC MPs to "vote with their conscience".
"Today our choice is between right and wrong; between good and evil," the Democratic Alliance's Mmusi Maimane said, while Andries Tlouamma, deputy president of the Agang party, warned if Mr Zuma survived then South Africa was "on a highway to hell".

Meanwhile, Mangosuthu Buthelezi, of the opposition Inkatha Freedom Party, said President Jacob Zuma has "trampled on the constitution" and has "sold the country to the highest bidder".

But Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told the gathered MPs the vote was "akin to a coup".
"My conscience tells me we all need to respect the voters who brought us here," she said, urging MPs to wait until the 2019 election, when the people would make their voices heard.
Mr Zuma is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, ahead of the 2019 general election.
He has endorsed his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as his successor.
Also vying for the leadership is Cyril Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist and one of South Africa's wealthiest politicians.