Afternoon Drive withJoanne Joseph

A prayer service has been organised for President Jacob Zuma ahead of the vote of no confidence in him on Tuesday.

The prayer is organised by the National Interfaith Council of South Africa together with traditional leaders in KwaZulu-Natal.

EWN reporter Ziyanda Ngcobo says the prayer is not organised just for the President but for South African and the country at large.

Read: #UniteBehind coalition to march to Parliament ahead of no confidence vote

They are saying that if indeed the President is impeached through a secret ballot it will plunge the country into crisis. They are saying this is in protection of the President...

— Ziyanda Ngcobo, EWN reporter

Associate Editor Daily Maverick, Ranjeni Munusamy says there seems to be more of an awareness of abuse of political power than ever before in South Africa.

This motion of no confidence is perhaps the start of a process and I think this big engagement from civil societies would be somewhere between now and 2019 elections.

— Ranjeni Munusamy, Associate Editor Daily Maverick

People who have been speaking out against President Zuma now seem to be supporting him ahead of the no confidence vote.

ANC chief whip Jackson Mthembu is one of those who has changed his tune against Zuma.

Munusamy says for people like them, the primary focus is the sustenance and survivability of the ANC through this very turbulent period in history.

Read also: A lot of people are not holding their breath for a secret ballot - Brown

I think that they know that there's significant damage being done to the image and brand of the ANC.

— Ranjeni Munusamy, Associate Editor Daily Maverick

The speaker of Parliament Baleka Mbete is due to make an announcement as to whether the voting will be done through secret ballot or not.

Munusamy says she is at the moment in a position of power to make the decision.

For Baleka Mbete, judging by the way she has pushed this to the eleventh hour you can see that she is not dictated by what is best for the country and the stability of the country...

— Ranjeni Munusamy, Associate Editor Daily Maverick

I think she is basically directed by political agenda and the ANC's need to close ranks on this.

— Ranjeni Munusamy, Associate Editor Daily Maverick

Speaker to announce her decision regarding appropriate voting method on Motion of No Confidence on Monday, 15h30, Good hope Chamber

— Moloto Mothapo (@MolotoMothapo) August 6, 2017

This morning , we prayed for MPs to vote their conscience in motion of no confidence on President Zuma. We pray... https://t.co/CF7b9U40q5

— Thabo Makgoba (@ArchbishopThabo) August 6, 2017

The Speaker leaving the announcement as late as possible. At what time does the clerk of the @ConCourtSA close up shop? #NoConfidence pic.twitter.com/YM61abrRTw

— Pieter du Toit (@PieterDuToit) August 6, 2017

To hear the rest of this interview, listen below:

This article first appeared on CapeTalk : #NoConfidence: Mbete is in a position of power - Ranjeny Munusamy