Delegates at the ANC elective conference have elected Cyril Ramaphosa as the new president of the party. Ramaphosa won by only a few hundred votes. The announcement was made a short while ago at the conference being held at Nasrec Expo centre in Johannesburg. Ramaphosa was competing alongside Dr Nkosazana Zuma. Voting concluded after a 10 hour session last night. We understand the votes were manually counted and carefully audited.
Ramaphosa’s support has grown throughout the year, on Saturday evening Parliament speaker Baleka Mbete announced her support for him. The ANC’s spokesperson Zizi Kodwa took to twitter on Sunday to express his support for Ramaphosa to lead the ANC.
Kodwa said that Ramaphosa would “inspire hope” for the party.
“Am casting my vote for comrade Ramaphosa for ANC president, whatever happens I trust he will restore confidence and inspire hope. It is early hours but it’s worth waiting,” he tweeted.
Am casting my vote for comrade Ramaphosa for ANC President, whatever happens I trust he will restore confidence and inspire hope, it’s early hours but it’s worth waiting #ANC54
— Zizi Kodwa (@zizikodwa) December 18, 2017
The ANC’s chief whip Jackson Mthembu, also took to twitter in the early hours of the morning to reiterate his support for Ramaphosa.
“Voted for Ramaphosa and other five incorruptible leaders [at the ANC] conference. My vote is to save the ANC and my country. We must,” Mthembu said.
Voted for @DPRamaphosa and other five incorruptible leaders @MYANC Conference . My vote is to save @MYANC and my country . We must !!
— Jackson Mthembu (@JacksonMthembu_) December 18, 2017
Meanwhile President Jacob Zuma said that he’s happy with the role he played in the liberation party. The president was speaking to journalists during a walkabout at Nasrec this afternoon. The president also hailed the party’s internal democratic processes.
Picture: Twitter