Hyde Park resident, Cyril Ramaphosa is the new man leading at the helm of the ANC.
Ramaphosa was elected as the new president of the current governing party in country after he walked away with 2 440 votes. His opponent, Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma tailed behind, with 2 261 votes.
The results were announced this evening (Monday, 18 December) at the Nasrec Stadium where the ANC is holding its 54th National Elective Conference.
The position of deputy president was taken by the Premier of Mpumalanga, David Mabuza, who received 2 538 votes, while the other candidate contesting for the same position, Lindiwe Sisulu, only received 2 159 votes.
Gwede Mantashe will be the national chairperson of the party.
Ace Magashule was elected as the secretary general of the party.
Jessie Duarte retained her position as the deputy secretary general of the ANC.
The Gauteng ANC chairperson, Paul Mashatile, has been elected as the treasurer general of the party.
The conference will, among other things, decide on policies. It will conclude on 20 December.
Here are five things you need to know about the ANC’s new president:
- Cyril Ramaphosa was born on 17 November 1952
- He was elected as the Deputy President of the ANC at the Mangaung conference in 2012 and served as the Deputy President of the country under President Jacob Zuma from 2014
- He holds a law degree
- He was instrumental in the formation of the National Union of Mine workers
- He is a respected as a skillful negotiator and strategist as he acted as ANC’s chief negotiator during South Africa’s transition to democracy.
Also read: Our democracy on a knife’s edge – could Ramaphosa be tried for treason?
