Ramaphosa emerged the
winner in the tightest election for the party leadership ever, beating
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, President Jacob Zuma’s former wife and a former
chairperson of the African Union.
South Africa’s
deputy-president, Cyril Ramaphosa, has been elected leader of the ruling
African National Congress, a position that will make him president of the
country in 2019.
The former trade unionist
beat Dlamini-Zuma with just 150 votes, winning 2,441 votes to his challenger’s
2,261 votes.
Observers of South Africa’s
politics believe that Ramaphosa’s victory may quicken President Jacob Zuma’s
end in office.
Another election for the
country’s presidency is not due until 2019.
Zuma backed his wife, who
was also a former minister under Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki.
Mr. Ramaphosa, a former
trade unionist and businessman, campaigned on a promise to root out corruption
and save the ANC from losing its majority for the first time at the 2019
election.
Also elected are David
Mabuza as Deputy President, Gwede Mantashe as chairperson, Ace Magashule as
secretary-general, Jessie Duarte as deputy secretary-general and Paul Mashatile
as treasurer-general.
(NAN)
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