Number of ANC rebels larger than first tallied
Tally of ANC MPs who voted with the opposition, abstained or who failed to attend the sitting highlights deeper division in ruling party
The number of ANC rebels in the party’s parliamentary caucus is much larger than initially tallied, underlining the division in the party and the vulnerability of President Jacob Zuma. An overwhelming majority of ANC MPs voted in support of the president in the motion of no confidence brought by the DA and held via a secret ballot. However, the number of ANC MPs who voted with the opposition, abstained or who failed to attend the sitting despite the three-line whip indicates that the division in the ANC is deeper than previously thought. The top brass in the party addressed the caucus before the debate and spelled out the line of march. The leadership warned MPs the motion was intended to effect regime change and bring down the ANC, using Zuma as the mechanism.A tally of the numbers, taking into account absentees from various parties and that several opposition MPs voted with the ANC, indicates 35 to 40 ANC MPs could have voted with the opposition or abstained. Zuma’s allies are now...
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