54th ANC Conference in Johannesburg: Ramaphosa elected President

The ANC has released the top six positions at Nasrec expo centre in Johannesburg:

President Cyril Ramaphosa – 2440 votes (Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma: 2261) Deputy president David Mabuza – 2538 National chairperson Gwede Mantashe – 2418 Secretary-general Ace Magashule – 2360 Deputy secretary-general Jessie Duarte – 2474 Treasurer-general Paul Mashatile – 2517

Ramaphosa is now the president of the ANC and is set to become the next president of the country should the ANC win the general elections in 2019.

Ramaphosa beat Dlamini-Zuma by about 200 votes and secured the presidency by an overwhelming majority. Ramaphosa was supported by ANC chairperson Baleka Mbete who expressed her backing for him late on Saturday night. Mbete’s show of support was surprising given she had been an avid backer of President Jacob Zuma. (various sources)