Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych - 5 April 2016: South African President Zuma survives vote for impeachment

The motion to unseat South African President Jacob Zuma was launched by opposition MPs after the constitutional court ruled that he had ignored an order to repay state funds spent on a lavish upgrade of his private home. He however survived the attempt to impeach him after the African National Congress party gave him its backing, winning the vote with 233 against 143. His reputation had however already been damaged due to other allegations. End 2015, he was accused of having ties to the Guptas (wealthy industrial families) and their involvement in selecting candidates for certain top cabinet and business jobs. Also before his election in 2009, he had already been fending off accusations of corruption and rape. The case was brought forward by public protector Thuli Madonsela alongside the country’s largest opposition parties – the Democratic Alliance and the Economic Freedom Fighters party, led by long-time Zuma rival Julius Malema.