Mmusi Maimane
The Democratic Alliance (DA) knows that the ruling party will vote to keep President Jacob Zuma, party leader Mmusi Maimane said on Tuesday.
Speaking during the debate to remove Zuma in the National Assembly, Maimane said the African National Congress's vital signs were not looking good.
He said the ruling party would show South Africans their true character by choosing to defend a "crooked and broken president".
Maimane said this would be a fake victory.
"When later today the votes are counted, you will claim a victory. On this occasion, when you win, you will lose. As ANC MPs, you should ask yourself, how many fake victories will you claim?"
He said they knew the ruling party would fall in line behind Zuma.
The debate follows last week's Constitutional Court ruling that Zuma failed to uphold the Constitution when he did not comply with Public Protector Thuli Madonsela's remedial action regarding the non-security upgrades to his Nkandla homestead.
Maimane also mentioned Zuma's apology on Friday, saying South Africans had rejected it.
He said Zuma and ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe had treated the Constitutional Court ruling as if it wasn't a big deal.
"Well, we are here on behalf of every South African to say that it is a big deal. It is a big deal when your President spends R246-million of public money on his private house."