South Africa president Zuma survives impeachment vote over scandals

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, April 5 (UPI) -- South African President Jacob Zuma withstood an impeachment vote Tuesday amid corruption allegations that stem from a series of scandals involving the nation's leader.

South Africa's National Assembly voted against ousting Zuma, by a vote of 233 to 143. The action could have forced Zuma from office, despite the fact he has three years remaining on his term.

Two years ago, the president supposedly used nearly $16 million in public money to refashion his private residence, but didn't repay any of it -- a move the nation's Constitutional Court ruled last week as illegal.

Tuesday, government officials took formal action on the question of whether Zuma should be allowed to remain in power. The vote was arranged by the opposing Democratic Alliance and Economic Freedom Fighters.

Zuma has previously stated that he will not resign.

The South African government will continue to try and recoup the money Zuma used for his home.

"All the current ANC leaders are corrupt," Mmusi Maimane, the leader of the Democratic Alliance, said of Zuma's party. "And some are just more corrupt than others. Nobody in the ANC is immune from the cancer of corruption."

Zuma and his associates have denied wrongdoing.

"The president has apologized and that's the humility that is necessary for any leader," ANC General Secretary Gwede Mantashe said.