![](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/720x405\/p05bvy0w.jpg\")
<\/div>\n<\/figure>\nBut Defence Minister Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula told the gathered MPs the vote was “akin to a coup”.<\/p>\n
“My conscience tells me we all need to respect the voters who brought us here,” she said, urging MPs to wait until the 2019 election, when the people would make their voices heard.<\/p>\n
Mr Zuma will not be standing in 2019.<\/p>\n
How does the vote work?<\/strong><\/p>\n Following a 90-minute debate, the House will adjourn to prepare for the vote.<\/p>\n A bell will then be rung and MPs called in alphabetical order to collect their ballot papers. There are three options on the ballot paper: Yes, No or Abstain.<\/p>\n After each MP has voted, the ballot boxes will be sealed.<\/p>\n A representative from each party will be called to witness the count. The counting room will be guarded by the Sergeant-in-Arms, under the supervision of the party representatives and Speaker.<\/p>\n Finally, the bell will be rung again and the speaker will announce the results.<\/p>\n Criticism of Mr Zuma has increased this year, after he fired his widely-respected finance minister, Pravin Gordhan, in March.<\/p>\n This came amid accusations that the president had become too close to the wealthy Gupta family, who are accused of trying to influence politician decisions – including the sacking of Mr Gordhan.<\/p>\n Mr Zuma and the Guptas have denied any wrongdoing.<\/p>\n Outside of parliament, rival protests were being held in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town, where the vote will take place.<\/p>\n Johannesburg police are on high alert ahead of the vote, the city’s Councillor for Public Safety, Michael Sun, said\u00a0in a statement.<\/p>\n He has faced numerous corruption allegations, all of which he has denied.<\/p>\n His critics also say he has mismanaged the economy and failed to raise living standards.<\/p>\n Zuma’s legal woes:<\/strong><\/p>\n Although allegations of corruption have dogged Mr Zuma for years now, a growing number from within his party have publicly called on him to step down, the BBC’s Milton Nkosi in Cape Town says.<\/p>\n Some, like ANC MP Makhosi Khoza, have even\u00a0received death threats\u00a0for speaking out against the president.<\/p>\n She said that a vote for the motion will not be a vote against the ANC, but a vote against corruption.<\/p>\n But our correspondent says that Mr Zuma still enjoys a considerable amount of support from his party – the question now is how many of his MPs are prepared to take a stand against him.<\/p>\n Mr Zuma is due to step down as head of the ANC in December, ahead of the 2019 general election.<\/p>\n He has endorsed his ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma as his successor.<\/p>\n Also vying for the leadership is Cyril Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist and one of South Africa’s wealthiest politicians.<\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" South Africa’s President Jacob Zuma faces a motion of no-confidence as MPs start voting in a secret ballot. The governing African National Congress (ANC) and opposition parties traded barbs in two hours of heated debate on Tuesday, before voting booths were brought out on to the floor. Mr Zuma has already survived seven no-confidence votes. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[107],"tags":[3,481,914],"yoast_head":"\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/ichef-1.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/C913\/production\/_97257415_4519a2b5-9fd4-4ea5-a18c-75227e697b61.jpg\")
<\/span><\/figure>\n![\"Protesters](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/2CD3\/production\/_97257411_90ba01c1-0cff-4a66-b5b8-5a9256cabac6.jpg\")
<\/span><\/figure>\n![\"President](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/624\/cpsprodpb\/1BC1\/production\/_97250170_zuma1.jpg\")
<\/span><\/figure>\n\n
![](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/images\/ic\/720x405\/p05bbb54.jpg\")
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