Cyril Ramaphosa elected as new president of South Africa’s ruling ANC

South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected leader of the African National Congress on Monday in a close-run vote that will set the direction for the country and the scandal-plagued party that has ruled since the end of apartheid.

Deputy president of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa greets an ANC member during the 54th National Conference of the ruling African National Congress (ANC)

As ANC leader, Ramaphosa, a 65-year-old union leader who became a businessman and is now one of South Africa’s richest people, is likely to become the country’s next president after elections in 2019.

He has promised to fight rampant corruption and revitalize the economy, a message hailed by foreign investors.

Jacob Zuma’s presidency, tainted by corruption and scandal, has badly tarnished the ANC’s image both at home and abroad. The party once led by Nelson Mandela is now deeply divided.

Ramaphosa narrowly beat Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 68, a former cabinet minister and Zuma’s ex-wife, in Monday’s vote, marking a pivotal moment for the ANC which launched black-majority rule under Mandela’s leadership 23 years ago.

He smiled and hugged other party officials as the results were read out. Zuma sat stoney-faced as Ramaphosa’s victory was announced.

Political instability, including the questions over who would replace Zuma, has been cited by credit rating agencies as a big factor behind their decision to cut South Africa to “junk”.

Economic growth in Africa’s traditional powerhouse has been lethargic over the last six years and the jobless rate stands near record levels.

Zuma has faced allegations of corruption since he became head of state in 2009 but has denied any wrongdoing. The president has also faced allegations that his friends, the wealthy Gupta businessmen, wielded undue influence over his government would be investigated.

Zuma and the Guptas have denied the accusations.

The 75-year-old president has survived several votes of no-confidence in parliament over his performance as head of state.

Dlamini-Zuma, 68, the president’s preferred candidate, had campaigned on pledges to tackle the racial inequality that has persisted since the end of white-minority rule.

The rand currency ZAR=D3 had risen to a nine-month high of 12.5200 earlier, in as the market priced in a Ramaphosa victory. Government bonds also closed firmer before announcement that Ramaphosa had won the race.

“Ramaphosa was seen as the more investor-friendly of the two main candidates vying to lead the ruling party,” Capital Economics Africa economist John Ashbourne said.

“During the campaign, he promised to clean up corruption within the ruling party and to work with businesses and labor to boost economic growth.”

In a boost to Ramaphosa, courts ruled last week that officials from some provinces seen as supporting Dlamini-Zuma had been elected illegally and were barred from the conference.

Ramaphosa drew the majority of nominations from party branches scattered across the country. But the delegates are not bound by their branches when they vote at the conference.

Mmusi Maimane, the opposition leader, said in a statement: “Ramaphosa cannot save South Africa, only the voters can in 2019,” in reference to the upcoming national elections.

Analysts say the bitterness of the power struggle between Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma has increased the chances of the party will find it hard to set policy and could possibly split before the 2019 national election.

After his victory, Ramaphosa will be ANC’s flag-bearer in that election, but will have to contend with Dlamini-Zuma’s allies in his leadership team, meaning that their policies are divergent.

Follow and Subscribe Nyasa TV :

Sharing is caring!

Follow us in Twitter
7 Comments
newest
oldest most voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Nganiza Muthulika
6 years ago

Congratulations South Africa and Zimbabwe. Time for Malawi to have change otherwise your poverty with blackouts and corruption will continue. NO more DDP/MUNTHARIKAS.

Listen and Love
6 years ago

Lessons for Malawi. 1. Cyril aka CR is only a party president and yet his ascendancy to party presidency is a positive factor to stimulate economy and beacons more investors to Africa’s biggest economy. The personal qualities of a leader can define the direction of a country. Check yourself APM how your character and those around you are affecting the growth of our small and volatile economy. 2. NDZ was quite another brilliant and able Candidate who could impact positively on economy and leadership in general if her resume is anything to go by. But i believe the name Zuma… Read more »

Fake Petros
Fake Petros
6 years ago

Cyril Ramaphosa is Venda a minority tribe from Vhembe. This a rural place in Lipompo, the second poorest province in South Africa after Eastern Cape. Ramaphosa has just been elected ANC President, inadvertently to be the next South African president. Malawians can and should learn from such kind of civilised politics. We need to close ranks and files of tribalism, nepotism and regionalism if we are to make meaningful development. Our primitive mentality and mindset has taken us nowhere 23 year post-democracy. In fact it is just leading to a population even ku North panopo ayamba kubelekana ngati mbewa (check… Read more »

Kongelesi
Kongelesi
6 years ago
Reply to  Fake Petros

Which Tumbukas can bear children like mbewa? Ayamba kukwata mowirikiza chifukwa ninji? kungoonjezera umphawi basi.

Truth pains
Truth pains
6 years ago
Reply to  Kongelesi

You are congratulating Ramaphosa but don’t forget that he is from the same party ANC meaning the party has to continue. If APM has to draw lessons it means we are ready as well for DPP to continue if it just changes leadership

Nganiza Muthulika
6 years ago
Reply to  Truth pains

Why did u not vote for another party? Its not about The party but a person too. Zuma was a disgraceful with his corruption. Lets try another person.

Hlabezulu Ngonoonda
Hlabezulu Ngonoonda
6 years ago
Reply to  Fake Petros

Fake Petros, what? Like ‘mbewa’? Please, provide key demographic indicators. Such data may provide an insight into the distribution and the concentration of the population either at regional or district level.

Generally, given the high number of births per woman which on average is 5.7, Malawi’s population continues to increase steadily such that it will grow to 25.9 million in 2030 even if the total fertility rate declines to 4.6 by 2020. Since the 1990s fertility in the country has been declining.

Read previous post:
Ex- Malawi soldier jailed 9 years for disemboweling man over beer bill

The High Court in Mzuzu has jailed a former soldier at Moyale Barracks of the Malawi Defence Force (MDF) to...

Close