South African president Jacob Zuma survives impeachment vote Tuesday April 05,2016

The South African president Jacob Zuma on Tuesday April 05,2016 has survived an attempt to impeach him after the African National Congress party gave him its backing.

 But his long-term future is still in doubt after a string of influential figures called on him to step down.

The motion to unseat the president was launched by opposition MPs after the constitutional court ruled that he had ignored an order to repay state funds spent on a lavish upgrade of his private home.

The ANC, which controls almost two-thirds of parliament, ensured the president won, with 233 MPs voting against the impeachment motion and 143 in favour.

But, beyond parliament, there are growing calls for Zuma to leave, arguing his reputation has been irretrievably tarnished by the ruling on his home renovations and a second controversy involving the Guptas, a family of wealthy industrialists with close ties to Zuma

Jacob Zuma has fended off accusations of corruption, influence-peddling and rape since before he took office in 2009, but the current swirl of scandals over both his home renovations and ties to the Guptas is arguably the biggest challenge he has faced