ANC cannot punish MPs if they vote against Zuma - Motlanthe

Former deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe says ANC MPs cannot be punished for voting in favour of the motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma.

ANC MPs are facing threats of disciplinary action should they vote in favour of the motion of no confidence in the president on April 18.

• Mantashe fires broadside at axed ministers who quit ParliamentAfrican National Congress secretary general Gwede Mantashe has criticized former ministers who have resigned as MPs this week after they were dropped from President Jacob Zuma's cabinet. 

This has led to calls for a secret ballot‚ with UDM leader Bantu Holomisa threatening to go to court if National Assembly speaker Baleka Mbete does not reply to his request for a secret ballot on the motion.

• What did Zuma say to Mantashe‚ Ramaphosa?President Jacob Zuma said something to ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe‚ deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa and treasurer general Zweli Mkhize to make them change their minds about his cabinet reshuffle‚ according to TV channel ANN7. 

Motlanthe told Daily Maverick that to vote against Zuma would not be an offence in terms of the ANC constitution.

He said the parliamentary caucus was not a structure of the ANC.

• WATCH: Malema predicts Mantashe would change tune over ZumaJulius Malema predicted that ANC Secretary-General Gwede Mantashe would change his tune over President Jacob Zuma. 

"Those people … take an oath as parliamentarians to be public representatives. They can’t be treated the same way as you treat an ANC branch."

- TMG Digital/BusinessLIVE