President Cyril Ramaphosa has been re-elected as leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) for a second five-year term in a party leadership contest.
Ramaphosa won the presidency contest having received 2, 476 votes against rival Zweli Mkhize’s 1,897.
Ramaphosa’s victory, however, was not a complete win for his slate. Paul Mashatile who was not supported by the president’s camp beat Oscar Mabuyane and Ronald Lamola for the position of deputy president.
Paul Mashatile received 2,178 votes, while Mabuyane received 1,858 and Lamola received 315 votes.
Gwede Mantashe was re-elected as the party’s national chairperson, while Fikile Mbalula was elected as the new secretary-general.
Mbalula’s first deputy will be Nomvula Mokonyane, and the second deputy will be Maropene Ramokgopa.
Gwen Ramokgopa has been elected as the new treasurer-general of the party.
Ramaphosa’s victory comes just a week after he survived a move to start impeachment proceedings against him in a vote in parliament.
The ANC parliamentary caucus largely voted last week to block an investigation into an ongoing scandal, after initial evidence found Ramaphosa could have violated his oath of office.
The findings related to the theft of more than $500 000 which was allegedly stolen from the president’s Phala Phala game farm in 2020. The money was allegedly stuffed inside a leather sofa, according to the panel investigation.
The panel led by retired chief justice Sandile Ngcobo, found that the crime was not reported to the police and that there was a “deliberate decision to keep the investigation secret”.
“Ramaphosa has snatched victory from the jaws of defeat… He was on the verge of resignation just weeks ago but has emerged stronger and more powerful. It is a remarkable turnaround,” said Richard Calland, a professor at the University of Cape Town.
Source: News24, CNN, Africa News, The Guardian, image from Twitter: @AthiGeleba