JOHANNESBURG — South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa became president of the ANC yesterday after a vote described as the most pivotal moment for the party since it launched black-majority rule under Nelson Mandela 23 years ago.
Reuters
Ramaphosa, a 65-year-old union leader who became a businessman and is now one of South Africa’s richest people, won against his sole rival, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 68. She is a former cabinet minister and the ex-wife of President Jacob Zuma.
According to Sifiso Mfenyana, chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Ramaphosa garnered 2 440 votes against Dlamini-Zuma’s 2261 votes.
The other members of the ANC’s top six are David Mabuza (deputy president); Gwede Mantashe (national chairperson); Ace Magashule (secretary-general); Jessie Duarte (deputy secretary- general); and Paul Mashatile (treasurer-general).
Meanwhile, the rand jumped to a nine-month high under R12.60 to the US dollar as news broke that Ramaphosa won the ANC leadership race at the party’s 54th National Conference at Nasrec in Johannesburg.
