Jacob Zuma to face no-confidence motion

Cape Town [South Africa], Feb 14 (ANI): South Africa's parliament will hold a motion of no-confidence in President Jacob Zuma on Thursday, as the country's embattled leader defied demands to step down.

"We have now asked the chief whip to proceed with the motion of no confidence tomorrow in parliament... so that President Zuma is then removed," ANC treasurer-general Paul Mashatile said.

Country's ruling African National Congress (ANC) chief whip Jackson Mthembu underscored that the party would back an opposition move to censure Zuma in the parliament in Cape Town on Thursday and hoped a new president could be sworn in on the same day, reported CNN.

It is highly likely that deputy president Cyril Ramaphosa will replace the 75-year-old Zuma.

Earlier in the day, Zuma in an unannounced live TV interview - called the efforts to oust him "very unfair."

"Nobody has ever provided the reasons. Nobody is saying what I have done," he said.

He broke his silence hours after police raided the home of a business family suspected of using its ties to the South African President to influence Cabinet appointments and land state contracts.

The scandal-hit South African leader on Tuesday was formally asked to step down.

The decision to "recall" him "urgently" came after marathon talks held amongst ANC's top leadership body.

Zuma, had led the ANC since 2007 and has been South Africa's president since 2009.

Zuma's presidency has been overshadowed by allegations of corruption which he has always vehemently denied.

The 75-year-old faces more than 780 allegations of corruption relating to a 1990s arms deal.

The South African media are calling President Zuma's seemingly inevitable exit "Zexit." (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI