There was no persecution of rogue African National Congress MPs (ANC) who have openly defied President Jacob Zuma, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa told the National Assembly on Wednesday.

During his monthly question-and-answer session, MPs grilled Ramaphosa on disciplinary action to be taken against ruling party parliamentarians who voted in favour of a motion of no confidence in President Jacob Zuma.

“As far as I’m concerned there’s no witch-hunt in the African National Congress,” said Ramaphosa.

“The ANC has accepted that the vote has happened as it did happen and clearly like any other political party it has its own internal processes…that must be respected, just as we respect the internal processes in other parties.”

The ANC has announced it would be taking disciplinary action against MPs who publicly stated they would vote in favour of the opposition motion.

Makhosi Khoza, an outspoken critic of Zuma, was recently removed from her position as chairperson of Parliament’s portfolio committee on public service and administration.

Zuma has also mooted the removal of Derek Hanekom, one of the ministers he fired in his march cabinet reshuffle, as chairman of the ANC’s disciplinary committee.