Just one ANC MP voting against

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 14: Democratic Alliance Chief Whip John Steenhuisen speaks during the 2017 State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate at the National Assembly on February 14, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. Political parties debated President Jacob Zuma’s SONA which was marred by chaos, violence and insults. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Jaco Marais)

Just one ANC MP voting against Zuma will ‘mortally wound’ him – John Steenhuisen

Plenty of ANC members have promised to vote ‘with their conscience’

Just one ANC MP voting against

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA – FEBRUARY 14: Democratic Alliance Chief Whip John Steenhuisen speaks during the 2017 State of the Nation Address (SONA) debate at the National Assembly on February 14, 2017 in Cape Town, South Africa. Political parties debated President Jacob Zuma’s SONA which was marred by chaos, violence and insults. (Photo by Gallo Images / Beeld / Jaco Marais)

Just as sure as water is wet, the DA’s Chief Whip is taking an opportunity to blast the president: All is well with the universe.

One of the most vocal, if not sharpest, critics of the Jacob Zuma regime believes it will take ‘just one vote’ from an MP within his party to cause irreparable damage to his image as a president.

Vote of No Confidence

Steenhuisen made his claim whilst speaking to a gathering of young professionals at Cape Town’s ‘Let’s Talk’ event on Thursday, and was relishing the vote of no confidence scheduled for Tuesday 8th August.

Addressing the crowd, Steenhuisen said:

“I believe the ANC [African National Congress] will back President Jacob Zuma on the day. I think we are still going to be stuck with him on the 9th, but he’ll celebrate Women’s Day weakened.”

“Even if one ANC MP voted for the motion, it would be a mortal wound for Zuma, as the false facade of unity in the party would be broken.”

Read: ‘Only exit package for Zuma should be a prison uniform’ – John Steenhuisen

Mr Steenhuisen was very wary of the fact that some MPs could choose to abstain or be ‘absent’ on the day and therefore save Zuma a no-confidence vote.

Will the no confidence vote be a secret ballot?

He was also concerned by National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete’s alleged ‘game plan’ to withhold her decision on whether the vote would be held via a secret ballot.

The DA’s Whip thinks that she will intentionally plunge the house into chaos by not making her decision on the matter until the last possible moment, on the eve of the vote. Even then, Steenhuisen foresees that the ballot will not be held in secret.

“She has never put the Constitution and the people first” was his scathing assessment of Mbete’s political chess.