Analyst explains Ramaphosa, Gordhan and Jonas' vote to keep Zuma on
Political analyst, Professor Somadoda Fikeni believes as much as the likes of Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and his Deputy Mcebisi Jonas may not be happy with the conduct of the president, they remain members of the ANC.
Fikeni has been commenting after a list of MPs who voted for and against the motion to impeach President Jacob Zuma was circulated on social media by opposition parties.
"When ANC membership decides on a particular line of action, you wouldn't expect them to suddenly take a dissenting view alone mainly because they had exposed the Guptas; they had prevented certain things from taking place. That's generally not how politics within political parties work."
"However, the veterans that you see like Ahmed Kathrada, Trevor Manuel and Mavuso Msimang speaking out openly is because they are not bound by their current incumbency within the ANC leadership structures or in cabinet," he said.
The list shows that Ramaphosa, Gordhan and Jonas among others, voted to keep Zuma in office.
A full list of the MPs who chose to vote against the Constitution today & not put South Africa first. #ImpeachZuma pic.twitter.com/ffJtqavPfO
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) April 5, 2016
During the debate, EFF leader called some of them out by name urging them to do the right thing and follow the example of veterans such as Professor Ben Turok, who has been vocal about Zuma's leadership.
Some South Africans expressed disappointment on social media that the deputy president and ministers had voted against the motion.
So to answer @Julius_S_Malema's earlier question: Ramaphosa, Gordhan and Jonas all voted for this corruption. https://t.co/aLl2gxVNaa
— Charl du Plessis (@CharlduPlessc) April 5, 2016
Cyril Ramaphosa, an architect of our constitution, today voted to defend a President found to have violated that same constitution.
— Koketso Sachane (@KoketsoSachane) April 5, 2016
Pravin Gordhan, hailed for his integrity, today voted to defend a President found to have violated the constitution.
— Koketso Sachane (@KoketsoSachane) April 5, 2016
Mcebisi Jonas, hailed the other day for speaking out on Guptas, today voted to defend a President found to have violated the constitution.
— Koketso Sachane (@KoketsoSachane) April 5, 2016
@zilevandamme @MmusiMaimane very disappointing to see Jonas (after what he revealed) and Gordhan amongst the No voters
— Craig (@craigtheuniss) April 5, 2016
Fikeni feels they may have predicted that the outcome of the yesterday's debate would be that Zuma would remain in office.