Cape Town - The debate into the motion of no confidence concludes with opposition parties appealing to ANC MPs to vote out President Jacob Zuma and put South Africans first.
Debate concludes & Baleka Mbete says proceedings will stand down as house prepared on voting by secret ballot #zumavote @IOL @WeekendArgus
— Tshego Lepule (@tshegofatsang) August 8, 2017
But MPs from the ruling parties argued that the opposition parties were instead using the motion to remove a democratically elected President and institute a regime change that was tantamount to a Coup d'état.
ANC's Nathi Mthethwa referred to opposition members as stooges who followed their bosses in an attempt to use the National Assembly as an apartheid stomping ground.
While PAC took different position on which way to vote, by choosing to abstain the majority of the other opposition parties reaffirmed their belief in the motion and called on the ANC MPs to join them.
House breaks into song as house gets prepared for secret ballot @IOL #zumavote @WeekendArgus pic.twitter.com/k3ZBnXXszr
— Tshego Lepule (@tshegofatsang) August 8, 2017
After two hours of debate the house's proceedings have been suspended as voting booths are set up for a first ever vote by secret ballot into the motion of no confidence.
ANC MPs continue to sing and dance pro-Zuma songs as they wait.
Weekend Argus