As President Jacob Zuma narrowly survived a vote of no confidence, the rand tanked and riot police gathered outside Parliament.
Altogether 177 MPs voted in favour of the motion with 198 against. There were nine abstentions of the total number of 384 votes cast.
As Speaker Baleka Mbete made the announcement, Plein Street – which was black, green and yellow – erupted as hundreds of Zuma supporters celebrated his eighth escape in a no-confidence motion.