Defiance campaign

A defiance campaign is to be initiated by opposition parties as they seek to remove President Jacob Zuma from office.

This comes after the ANC used its majority in parliament yesterday to prevent Zuma being impeached.

The plan, hinted at in parliament yesterday, will see several tactical actions - including marches and court action - being used to force the ANC to recall Zuma from office.

Yesterday, former finance minister Trevor Manuel joined other ANC stalwarts - Mathews Phosa and Ahmed Kathrada and some military veterans - in calling for Zuma to resign.

During the debate, United Democratic Movement leader Bantu Holomisa said those who opposed Zuma's continued leadership must meet and defend the constitution.

Holomisa said South Africans should unite and demand that Zuma leave office, failing which there should be fresh elections.

The UDM leader made a clear call that parliament must be dissolved.

He was supported by other opposition leaders, who said they would join any action that would see Zuma removed from office.

Holomisa said people should urgently prepare for action.

Economic Freedom Fighter leader Julius Malema told ANC MPs soon after the impeachment motion brought by the DA was defeated that the ruling party had violated its constitutional mandate.

"You must be ready for what is coming," he said.

The National Assembly, where the ANC has a 62% majority, rejected the motion by 243 votes to 143. There are 400 members of the national assembly in total.

Outside parliament last night leaders of the opposition stood together and said they would challenge the ANC and parliament to fulfil its obligation to protect the constitution.

They also called for South Africans to come together to protest against Zuma.

"We have felt that collectively we will be going out to engage South Africans from all walks of life, whether church leaders, whether they are people of civil society, to say let us get together and make it quite clear that we can't accept the actions that are being taken by Jacob Zuma and the parliament of the republic," said DA leader Mmusi Maimane, who was flanked by Malema, Mosiuoa Lekota and other opposition leaders.

Maimane called for a disciplinary process against Zuma.

"He's gone here in parliament and lied to the people of South Africa, saying he has a bond and many other things," said Maimane.

In some quarters this is seen as the start of a possible campaign of rolling mass action.

Though the ANC defeated the motion, senior ANC party members were loud in their silence as junior members were left to defend Zuma.

ANC MP Mmamoloki Kubayi slammed the DA and opposition parties in calling for the removal of Zuma. She said Zuma had already accepted the Constitutional Court decision and would abide by it.

Kubayi sat on the ad hoc committee that considered the Nkandla matter.

Also batting for the ANC, Deputy Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development John Jeffery said that although the governing party agreed with the court that the president did not uphold the constitution, it did not view Zuma's actions as a "serious breach" worthy of removal.

"The president acted in good faith and has apologised. The president and the ANC believed he was acting correctly," said Jeffery.

"The president did not knowingly violate the constitution. He will obey and pay as instructed."

ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu appealed to MPs to follow and respect the constitution.

He said South Africans should give Zuma the benefit of the doubt and accept his apology.

The session started with the Opposition demanding that Speaker Baleka Mbete recuse herself because she was not impartial.

Malema screamed at Mbete, adding insult to injury by addressing her by her first name, not as "Honourable Speaker".

"You are not a credible person to preside over this thing. Baleka, listen to me. You are not qualified to sit where you are," said Malema.

DA chief whip John Steenhuisen joined the call, noting that Mbete was the first respondent in the Constitutional Court matter, and called on her to recuse herself in the interest of the dignity of parliament.

''You are, therefore, party to the crime that took place," said Steenhuisen.

Mbete chaired the first session of the sitting but did not preside over the impeachment debate.