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Articles on Vote of no confidence

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Cyril Ramaphosa, the new president of South Africa’s governing party, the ANC, and potentially the country’s future president. Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

The ANC has a new leader: but South Africa remains on a political precipice

South Africa’s ruling ANC has a new leader - Cyril Ramaphosa. But this doesn’t mean that the country is out of the woods. Political instability remains a real possibility.
Supporters of South African President Jacob Zuma celebrate his triumph in the no confidence vote. EPA/Nic Bothma

Zuma won, but the ANC will never be a united party again

The bitter attitude of ANC leaders who spoke inside and outside Parliament before and after the no confidence vote added fuel to already existing public anger at the arrogance of the governing party.
The motion of no confidence against President Jacob Zuma displayed tension between party and conscience. REUTERS/Mark Wessels

Lessons from South Africa: parliamentary conscience and the courage to rebel

The motion of no confidence against South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma showcased tension at the heart of South Africa’s democracy. Should MPs have the right to vote according to their conscience?
South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma celebrates with his supporters after surviving a no-confidence motion in parliament. Reuters/Mike Hutchings

No confidence vote: a victory for Zuma, but a defeat for the ANC

The political death of President Jacob Zuma is proving to be a protracted affair. Though he lives to fight another day, the ANC faces the prospect of losing its majority at the polls next year.
South Africa’s Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng making a ruling on secret ballots in Parliament at the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg. Siphiwe Sibeko/Reuters

There are dangers behind giving South African MPs the right to a secret ballot

A motion of no confidence - secret or open - in South Africa’s president will be destabilising. There’s value in ensuring that such a hefty decision is made openly and with courage of conviction.

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