Zuma won't be censured

The National Assembly rejected a DA motion to censure President Jacob Zuma by 217 votes to 78, with four abstentions.

It was another long day of filibustering, this time by the ANC.

The vote was taken shortly after 10.30pm .

The motion to censure Zuma, moved by DA parliamentary leader Mmusi Maimane, was premised on the fact that Zuma had not answered questions in parliament four times this year, as the rules dictate.

Only the DA, Freedom Front Plus and Agang supported it. The NFP abstained, the Economic Freedom Fighters party did not vote at all and the other opposition parties voted with the ANC.

Earlier, Maimane and ANC Chief Whip Stone Sizani clashed over the motion -a day after striking a deal to work together in seeking political solutions to problems plaguing parliament. Maimane claimed Sizani had asked that the DA withdraw its motion entirely.

"We will not do so," Maimane said. "We will [remain] in parliament all night if needs be."

In another development likely to inflame tensions, DA leader Helen Zille will this morning lead a march to parliament to force Zuma to answer parliamentary questions.

The president has avoided parliament since the EFF disrupted a question and answer session on August 21, demanding that he pay back the money spent on his private Nkandla residence.

Yesterday, Sizani blasted Maimane, accusing him of misleading Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa and leaders of other parties by proceeding with a motion to censure Zuma.

On Tuesday, Ramaphosa, in his capacity as leader of government business in parliament, and all political parties represented in the House, agreed to establish a committee to address a range of problems besetting it , including Zuma's non-appearance to answer questions . Maimane and Sizani were both appointed deputy leaders of the steering committee.

Despite this, Maimane forged ahead last night with his sponsored debate on a motion to censure Zuma.

"The DA's conduct clearly illustrates that it cannot be trusted as a reliable and mature negotiating partner. Its action will only fuel mistrust, hostility and tension in parliament," said Sizani.

To show its unhappiness, the ANC filibustered the debate by hours, with its MPs tabling a bevy of frivolous motions.

But DA Chief Whip John Steenhuisen has denied the deal with Ramaphosa included an agreement to withdraw the motion.

"There was absolutely no agreement made with party leaders and the deputy president to withdraw our motion.

"In fact, we explicitly agreed with the chief whip of the ANC that we will proceed with the motion," said Steenhuisen.