South African President Jacob Zuma, on Thursday, survived a no-confidence vote after the anti-graft watchdog called in a report for judicial inquiry into allegations of influence-peddling in the government.
The scandal highlighted in the report had rattled investors in South Africa and raised the risk that the stagnating economy’s credit ratings would be downgraded.
President Zuma had the support of the African National Congress, ANC, which controls about two-thirds of the 400-member assembly.
Earlier this year, Mr Zuma had survived a no-confidence motion and an impeachment vote related to other scandals.
“I think the no’s have it,” Deputy Speaker Lechesa Tsenoli ruled, after lawmakers of Mr. Zuma’s ANC voted against the motion and started singing in support of Zuma.
The main opposition Democratic Alliance, DA, which called the no-confidence motion against Mr. Zuma over what it described as “reckless leadership”, asked for a re-count of the vote.
Mr. Zuma won with 214 lawmakers voting against the motion, while 126 voted in favour. this is similar to the March’s result.
