Vote of no confidence against Zuma crumbles

South African President Jacob Zuma on Tuesday survived a no-confidence vote in parliament for a second time in less than a year.

The mounting pressure on the president comes against a background of economic crisis sparked by his firing of two finance ministers within days in December.

The fallout was followed by a public row between the respected new Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and the head of the tax authority, which has again rattled markets.

The no-confidence vote was called by the official opposition, the Democratic Alliance (DA).

"South Africans demand that Jacob Zuma be taken to task for his reckless handling of our economy, and his sending South Africa into financial crisis," DA leader Mmusi Maimane said in a statement.

"A motion of no confidence is the best mechanism to ensure that President Zuma is fired, once and for all.

"It has become common cause that under Jacob Zuma's leadership, our country is spiralling downward - and doing so at an alarmingly fast rate."

The Economic Freedom Fighters did not participate in Parliament's motion of no confidence debate in Zuma.

EFF spokesperson Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said in a statement that the party had taken a decision not to participate.

"The EFF refuses to legitimise a morally and politically compromised President of the ANC through another process of Parliament," he said.

He said members of the ruling party were going to vote to protect Zuma.

"Such a debate on vote of no confidence in Mr Zuma requires substance and judgment of the highest court in land, the Constitutional Court, and it is then that we will reveal to all South Africans that, to the ANC, the Constitution does not matter.

"It is in view of the position above that the EFF will not participate in today's debate but will be present to attend to other matters of the House, to fulfil the promise made during the elections to bring issues affecting our people to Parliament," he said.

Ndlozi said they had appealed for a postponement, and said they would wait for the outcome of the Constitutional Court case against the president.

The party had brought a case against Zuma in the Constitutional Court, calling for him to pay back a reasonable portion of the money spent on his Nkandla homestead.