South Africa’s President Survives Impeachment By The Skin Of His Teeth

South Africa’s scandal-hit President Jacob Zuma has survived an attempt to oust him in the country’s National Assembly. A motion of no-confidence in Zuma was defeated by 198 votes to 177. A simple majority of 201 votes was required to remove Zuma as president.Even though the ballot was held in secret, the opposition was not able to persuade enough members of Zuma’s ruling African National Congress to side with them. Zuma has survived seven previous motions of no confidence in his presidency over the last eight years, all held via open ballot.As head of the party that led South Africa out of apartheid, Zuma won the presidential election in 2009 and 2014, but has been dogged by criminal investigations and corruption allegations.