Loud cheers and jubilant singing at ANC caucus meeting in parliament
Curiously, Blade Nzimande practically missed the meeting, but a few minutes after he arrived, members of the ANC caucus started filing out singing jubilantly.
ANC celebrates during 105th anniversary celebrations of the founding of the African National Congress (ANC) on January 08, 2016 at Orlando stadium in Soweto. Picture: Gallo Images
There was a hive of activity during this morning’s ANC caucus meeting, where the party was expected to meticulously go through the details of the vote of no confidence in President Zuma starting in the National Assembly at 2pm this afternoon.
Although previously reported to have decided to give the session a miss, the presidential security convoy arrived in the parliamentary precinct at about 8.30am. It was not yet clear where President Jacob Zuma was headed inside parliament
ANC Caucus Singing "we are a long way from where we need to get" @eNCA #Noconfidence pic.twitter.com/2QVXuvcoyw
— Annika Larsen (@AnnikaLarsen1) August 8, 2017
It soon became quite clear that another ANC caucus meeting had been convened to appraise all party MPs.
Chief whip Jackson Mthembu and Police Minister Fikile Mbalula had this morning told the media that the caucus had decided all ANC MPs must vote against the motion of no confidence.
One of the longest serving MPs and currently the minister of defence and military veterans, Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula, is expected open the debate.
Leading the debate today for ANC Nosiviwe Mapisa Nqakula #MotionOfNoConfidence @eNCA pic.twitter.com/DN8OAPb1Jd
— Annika Larsen (@AnnikaLarsen1) August 8, 2017
Loud cheers could be heard from the chamber, where the caucus meeting was taking place. The strong media contingent keeping tabs on the meeting speculated the caucus reached 202 nay votes. Pravin Gordhan arrived shortly after.
#MotionIs President Jacob Zuma inside the ANC caucus Chamber? Loud clapping . Pravin Gordhan just walked in. @enca pic.twitter.com/9DfmcdJpQP
— Annika Larsen (@AnnikaLarsen1) August 8, 2017
As the singing continued, it soon became apparent that the ruling party’s third whip notice had reached all its 249 members.
Full house at ANC Caucus. #MotionOfNoConfidence @eNCA pic.twitter.com/FEsrioi2Uj
— Annika Larsen (@AnnikaLarsen1) August 8, 2017
The ministers of water and sanitation as well as social development, Nomvula Mokonya and Bathabile Dlamini, worked the phones just outside the venues, calling absent comrades to come boost the numbers this afternoon, perhaps?
Nomvula Mokonyane and Bathabile Dlamini. Both staunch JZ supporters making calls outside ANC caucus @enca #MotionOfNoConfidence pic.twitter.com/80ZevDeGRq
— Annika Larsen (@AnnikaLarsen1) August 8, 2017
The only MP who might not have received the WhatsApp message about the meeting appeared to be SACP secretary-general and Higher Education and Training Minister Dr Blade Nzimande. Some wondered if perhaps he was attending to his deputy’s skirmishes at Cubana in Fourways.
Blade Nzimande (SACP leader & SA Minister) arriving at ANC Caucus.#SecretBallot #ZumaVote #VoteofNoConfidence #NoConfidenceVote pic.twitter.com/8KvznGSt0X
— Zim Locals (@zimlocals) August 8, 2017
After the meeting ended, the ruling party MPs emerged out of the meeting in jubilant unison.
ANC MP's singing jubilantly after caucus meeting #zumavote @News24 pic.twitter.com/I38wpWk5NZ
— Jan Gerber (@gerbjan) August 8, 2017
READ MORE: Jackson Mthembu: the ANC won’t vote with opposition to remove Zuma
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