Johannesburg, June 22 (IANS): South Africa's highest court on Thursday ruled that parliamentarians can cast secret ballots in a censure vote against President Jacob Zuma, who is facing mounting criticism within the ruling ANC.

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng said the ruling party should allow its MPs to vote with their consciences in circumstances where the outcome might "advance our constitutional project of improving the lives of all citizens", The Times newspaper reported.

Ruling in a case brought by the country's opposition parties, Mogoeng said National Assembly Speaker Baleka Mbete had the authority to order a secret ballot. 

Mbete, a top African National Congress official and Zuma ally, had argued earlier that the rules of Parliament did not allow for a secret ballot, BBC reported.

Zuma has faced calls for his resignation over issues ranging from corruption allegations to a controversial cabinet reshuffle that saw his widely-respected Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan fired. 

The Opposition parties, especially the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), said that many ANC members would come out against the President once the voting remained undisclosed.

Opposition parties hailed the court ruling as the first step in removing Zuma, who has so far survived four no-confidence votes. 

Responding to the ruling, the ANC said it would defeat the motion to remove Zuma, which the DA said presented an opportunity to oust a "toxic" President.