TheCable

Cyril Ramaphosa has been elected the president of African National Congress.

The ANC is South Africa’s largest political party.

He was announced winner on Monday at the party’s national convention.

David Mabuza was elected vice president.

Ramaphosa defeated Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, his opponent, at the election which held in Johannesburg.

He secured 2,440 votes while his opponent polled 2,261 votes.

Ramaphosa, 65, is the current deputy president to President Jacob Zuma.

He will replace Zuma as ANC president and will almost certainly run as presidential candidate in the South African presidential election in 2019.

Voting for the ANC election started late on Sunday night and ended on Monday.

The election is perhaps the most pivotal moment for the ANC since it launched black-majority rule under Nelson Mandela’s leadership 23 years ago.

With scandal and graft accusations having tainted Zuma’s presidency, the party is deeply divided and its image tarnished at home and abroad.

Gwede Mantashe was elected as national chairperson while Paul Mashatile is new treasurer general.

Ace Magashule was elected secretary general of the party and Jessie Duarte as deputy secretary general.