South Africa's opposition parties have lost their bid to impeach President Jacob Zuma in a historic parliamentary debate. It was the first time a sitting South African president faced impeachment for violating the country's Constitution. CCTV's Rene Del Carme reports from Cape Town.

The impeachment debate by the opposition got off to a rocky start. Economic Freedom Fighters Leader Julius Malema called on the Speaker of the Parliament to recuse herself from the proceedings. And threatened to take her to court.

"The judges were clear. That the president and this parliament engaged in an unlawful activity. And we cannot behave as if the court has not pronounced itself. Now the court has made it very clear, who messed up. You want us to continue as business as usual. The speaker of parliament doesn't get removed, the president remains," said Julius Malema, conmander of Economic Freedom Fighters.

"When the highest court in the land ruled that the man occupying the highest office violated the Constitution, it should have been the end of President Zuma. Because, the Constitutional Court Judgment removes any doubt that the president has forsaken his oath of office. And on Friday evening, the 1st of April, Africans across the land dismissed President Zuma's hollow apology with contempt. Because today, the anger in our country remains palpable," said Mmusi Maimane, leader of Democratic Alliance.

The motion to impeach President Zuma was stopped by his ruling party, the African National Congress, which has the majority in parliament.

"The president's role is both ceremonial and administrative, making the position of president, the most significant one, politically, in our country. The removal of the president has the potential to jeopardize the well-being of the South African nation," said Pule Mabe, African National Congress.

Last week, the country's highest court ruled Zuma enriched himself and his family with millions of dollars worth of upgrades at his private home. The president apologized but has refused to resign.

Some ANC MPs have described the failed attempt to impeach Jacob Zuma as frivolous. But opposition parties say it's just made them more determined to try and get him out of office.