‘Mandela heir’ wins ANC leadership and vows to tackle corruption as end of Jacob Zuma’s scandal-hit ten years in power draws near
Millionaire businessman Cyril Ramaphosa defeated Jacob Zuma's ex-wife to win the leadership of the ruling party
A CLOSE friend of Nelson Mandela has won the leadership of South Africa's ruling ANC party signalling an end to Jacob Zuma's scandal-hit decade in power.
Anti corruption candidate Cyril Ramaphosa defeated Mr Zuma's ex-wife to take the leadership of the party and bring new hope to supporters amid declining polls.
Mr Ramaphosa, 65, was a prominent anti-apartheid activist and one of the chief negotiators who helped bring an end to white minority rule in South Africa.
He went on to become one of the wealthiest businessmen in the country and there is now hope the millionaire can improve the ANC's tarnished reputation.
Mr Ramaphosa defeated former cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma by 2,440 votes to 2,261, following a fierce contest that had threatened to tear the party in two.
He has promised a crackdown on the corruption that saw the country's economy slide into recession this year.
Mr Ramaphosa campaigned as a stark alternative to Mr Zuma, who the Supreme Court ruled should face corruption, fraud, racketeering and money-laundering charges in October.
It is thought the outgoing president had hoped to usher his ex-wife into power in a bid to shield himself from prosecution.
She had promised white land grabs and a crackdown on white-owned businesses to tackle racial inequality.
Mr Ramaphosa, a close ally and friend of Nelson Mandela, is expected to become president following the 2019 elections.
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But he has a fight on his hands. The party's popularity is in decline and last year it received less than 60per cent of the vote in municipal elections for the first time.
Zuma could remain president until the national election in 2019 although analysts expect Mr Ramaphosa to move quickly to remove his cronies.
The new leader could call for Mr Zuma to resign as the country's president before the election, which the party has the authority to do.
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