President Jacob Zuma’s supporters and detractors are set to descend on the streets of Cape Town as the motion of no confidence against him takes place next week, a situation that could result in volatile clashes.
National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete has not yet pronounced on whether the vote in the motion will be held in secret or not. Her decision could fuel the tense situation.
Should she opt for an open ballot, opposition parties are likely to interdict the motion and haul her back to court. And should she allow a secret ballot, those backing the president are likely to feel betrayed.
There is also a possibility that Mbete would announce her decision on the ballot as the motion commences on the day. This could mean a lengthy sitting, with court action still possible during proceedings.
Civil society, opposition parties and church groups will be protesting outside Parliament, calling on ANC MPs to vote Zuma out amid the deepening economic and credibility crisis his administration is facing.
A coalition of faith-based and civil society groups, #Unite Behind, will take to the streets and — in a sign of the difficulty faced by some ANC MP’s and of the manner in which it is dividing the party —will be addressed by senior MP and former deputy finance minister Mcebisi Jonas.
Zuma’s backers in the province were planning a march of their own. ANC spokesman Zizi Kodwa said the party had planned demonstrations for the day in which the party faithful would come out in support of its president.
In a dig at opposition parties, he called on EFF and DA MPs to follow the example of their own councillors in Mogale City and Kraaifontein who defied the party line and urged them to support Zuma.
Both parties have been calling on ANC MPs to vote against their caucus and the ANC’s national executive committee instructions to toe the line and vote in favour of the president. Kodwa said he did not expect clashes between the various groups as during the state of the nation address about 20 organisations protested around the parliamentary precinct and it was relatively peaceful.
The DA appealed on Thursday for funding to bankroll the protests, sending out mass e-mails on Thursday stating that donors have agreed to match every rand pledged by ordinary South Africans one for one.
Churches will be praying for ANC MPs to vote with their conscience during Sunday services, said the South African Council of Churches. Civil society group Future SA has called on South Africans to turn off their lights for an hour ahead of the motion to be heard on Tuesday.
Business Leadership SA called for members to participate in the no-confidence action outside workplaces from midday to 2pm on Tuesday.
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