South Africa’s opposition moves to dissolve parliament

FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 file photo, members of parliament prepare to vote for or against the motion of no confidence against South African president, Jacob Zuma in the South African parliament in Cape Town, South Africa. South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance party submitted a motion to dissolve pariament Thursday, Aug. 10 2017 in a move that, if passed, would require fresh national elections. (Rodger Bosch/Pool Photo via AP, File) FILE - In this Tuesday, Aug. 8, 2017 file photo, members of parliament prepare to vote for or against the motion of no confidence against South African president, Jacob Zuma in the South African parliament in Cape Town, South Africa. South Africa's main opposition Democratic Alliance party submitted a motion to dissolve pariament Thursday, Aug. 10 2017 in a move that, if passed, would require fresh national elections. (Rodger Bosch/Pool Photo via AP, File)

By Associated Press August 10, 2017 2 min read

JOHANNESBURG (AP) – South Africa’s main opposition party submitted a motion to dissolve the nation’s parliament on Thursday, which, if passed, would require fresh national elections.

“The ANC is willing to do anything to protect President Jacob Zuma,” said John Steenhuisen, chief whip of the Democratic Alliance party. “South Africans need to be given the opportunity to make their voices heard at the polls.”

The dissolution motion comes hot on the heels of a no confidence vote which Zuma narrowly survived earlier this week.

The dissolution attempt, which requires 201 out of 400 parliamentary votes to pass, is seen as unlikely to succeed as the ANC holds a majority of 249 of the house’s seats.

The motion says the some ANC lawmakers “no longer represent the earnest hopes and aspirations of the electorate” and “exhibit unquestioning fealty to President Jacob Zuma and to the organization he leads.”