SOUTH AFRICA: Court allows secret Zuma confidence vote

South Africa’s highest court has ruled that lawmakers can cast secret ballots in a confidence vote against President Jacob Zuma, an outcome the opposition hopes will pave the way for his ouster. The Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete, a ruling African National Congress (ANC) member and Zuma ally, can decide […]

South Africa’s highest court has ruled that lawmakers can cast secret ballots in a confidence vote against President Jacob Zuma, an outcome the opposition hopes will pave the way for his ouster.

The Constitutional Court ruled on Thursday that parliamentary speaker Baleka Mbete, a ruling African National Congress (ANC) member and Zuma ally, can decide on a secret vote.

Opposition parties wanted a secret ballot in the belief that disgruntled ANC lawmakers could turn against Zuma if their votes are not publicly disclosed.

Mbete had said parliamentary rules did not allow for a secret vote but Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng disagreed on Thursday, saying she had “the necessary latitude”.

However, he stopped short of ordering a secret ballot, saying it would be a violation of the separation of powers between the Constitutional Court and parliament.