Dr Zweli Mkhize congratulates Cyril Ramaphosa on being elected for a second term as the president of the ANC Photo Muhammed Shaik/Salaamedia
African National Congress (ANC) president Cyril Ramaphosa will remain in the top seat for the next five years. The embattled president narrowly bagged victory at the party’s 55th national elective conference at Nasrec, Johannesburg, on Monday.
Boisterous delegates cheered as Kgalema Motlanthe announced Ramaphosa’s defeat against Dr Zweli Mkhize. Ramaphosa got away with 2476 votes versus 1897 for Mkize.
Former treasurer-general Paul Mashatile took the post of deputy president, while Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe retained his post as national chairperson.
Transport minister Fikile Mbalula is now the secretary-general, beating close rivals Phumulo Masualle and former KwaZulu-Natal provincial secretary Mdumiseni Ntuli.
Former Gauteng premier and water and sanitation minister Nomvula Mokonyane was elected first deputy secretary-general, beating parliament’s chair of the police portfolio committee, Tina Joemat-Pettersson who was nominated from the floor on Saturday.
ANC Women’s League co-ordinator Maropene Ramokgopa was elected as second deputy secretary-general. Co-ordinator in the ANC secretary-general’s office, Gwen Ramokgopa, was elected treasurer-general.
In reaction to Ramaphosa’s victory, the rand gained 1.8% against the dollar. The JSE all share was moved a little while the banking index moved up 2.8%.
His re-election comes at a time when the nation confronts a myriad of challenges and Ramaphosa himself stands under a dark cloud following the Phala Phala report.
