JOHANNESBURG - Opposition parties in Gauteng have failed in their bid to remove ANC Chief Whip Brian Hlongwa.

Min Motsoaledi, please demonstrate you are serious about addressing Healthcare in SA by laying charges and doing all you can to have Brian Hlongwa arrested. Your NHI plans arise from a serious lack of leadership accountability. https://t.co/hvo3eLdVVv — Wayne Duvenage (@wayneduv) June 24, 2018

He is implicated in irregular expenditure during his tenure as Health MEC between 2006 and 2010.

31 members of the legislature voted against Hlongwa, while 36 voted for him to remain in his position.

BrianHlongwa 31 voted against Hlongwa and 36 voted for him to stay as Chief. 4 members are absent whom are from the ANC and one ANC MP also abstained. Hlongwa survived the motion. — Samkele Maseko (@samkelemaseko) June 28, 2018

"It&39;s been a major struggle to have this motion tabled. We had two special programming meetings and we had to battle it out... so it was a tough battle to have it tabled," said Mandisa Mashego,Gauteng EFF.

"What we saw today... it was a close race," said DA&39;s Jack Bloem.