Cyril Ramaphosa is new South Africa president
Cyril Ramaphosa has become South Africa’s president, a day after embattled leader Jacob Zuma resigned.
He was the only candidate nominated in parliament Thursday, so no vote was needed to make him president. MPs from the ruling African National Congress (ANC) broke into song at the announcement.
In a speech to parliament, Ramaphosa, 65, said that corruption was on his radar.
The ANC had told Zuma to step down or face a vote of no-confidence.
In a televised statement, he said he was quitting with immediate effect but said he disagreed with his party’s decision.
Zuma faces numerous corruption allegations but denies any wrongdoing.
One opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, walked out of the parliamentary debate. It wants new elections, rather than the ANC deciding on the identity of the new president.
There is a renewed sense of hope as Ramaphosa is taking over the reins of Africa’s most industrialised economy.
The markets appeared to welcome Zuma’s resignation. The South African currency, the rand, reached its strongest levels in three years — at 11.6570 rand for $1 in early trading.
Some will miss him though, pointing to achievements like announcing the abolition of fees for higher education, saID the BBC’s Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg.— BBC
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