CAPE TOWN, June 22 (Xinhua) -- South African President Jacob Zuma indicated on Thursday that another vote of no confidence against him would fail again.
Answering questions in Parliament, Zuma challenged opposition parties for not having majority in Parliament to win a vote of no confidence against him.
He was speaking after the Constitutional Court (ConCourt) made a ruling on an opposition application to force Parliament Speaker Baleka Mbete to conduct a vote of no confidence against Zuma by secret ballot.
Zuma said he has survived seven votes of no confidence and there is no need for a secret ballot.
"Parliament has dealt with a no confidence vote seven times, and failed," Zuma said.
A secret ballot is not fair as the opposition is trying to get a majority they don't have, Zuma said.
"The people of SA did not make a mistake electing me president. I'm fit, and I'm doing it very well," Zuma said when asked whether he is fit to lead the country.
On Thursday, the ConCourt ruled that Mbete is empowered to conduct a vote of no confidence in Zuma by a secret ballot.
The ruling allows Mbete to decide whether to hold a motion of no confidence in Zuma in secret.
Mbete argued earlier that she didn't have the discretion or is under no obligation to allow for a secret ballot. She also indicated that she has never been opposed to a secret ballot.
"The Speaker says that neither the Constitution nor the rules of the National Assembly allow her to authorize a vote by secret ballot. To this extent, she was mistaken," Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said in the ruling.
"Our interpretation of the relevant provisions of the Constitution and the rules make it clear, that the Speaker does have the power to authorize a vote by a secret ballot in a motion of no confidence in the president," Mogoeng said.
He said Mbete's argument "was invalid and must be set aside".
The rules have been clarified to give Mbete powers to conduct a secret ballot, and she must make a fresh decision on "a proper and rational basis", given her indication that she is not opposed to a secret ballot, the court ruled.
The United Democratic Movement (UDM) approached the court in April, seeking a court order to force a secret ballot in the hope that the ruling African National Congress (ANC) MPs would be encouraged to vote against Zuma.
The 400-member Parliament is dominated by ANC MPs.
Opposition parties fielded another vote of no confidence against Zuma in April after Zuma reshuffled the cabinet, sacking the then Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and other ministers.
The vote was originally set for April 18 but was postponed at the request of opposition parties pending the application for the vote to take place by secret ballot.
