JOHANNESBURG: South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) will elect a new leader by this weekend. South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa is tipped to win re-election as chief of ANC at a five-day party conference that started on Friday despite a corruption scandal and internal opposition. ANC’s image has been stained by cronyism, corruption, and nepotism.
Who will be the next party leader ?
Ramaphosa sought to project confidence and authority during his three-hour-long address on Friday. During the conference several supporters of former president Jacob Zuma heckled the current President, chanting slogan “Change” and banging tables. On the occasion, Ramaphosa urged them to discuss issues rather than shouting.
Ramaphosa is still leading the list of two nominated candidates and is viewed to be the most favored in the absence of better options to lead the party leader. On the eve of the conference, former President of South Africa Zuma announced that he was seeking to file a case against President Ramaphosa on a leaked medical report associated with a corruption trial in 1990s.
However, the act is unlikely to hamper President Ramaphosa’s chance of securing a 2nd term as ANC head. Reports said that ANC has lost its support in key cities in municipal polls but the ANC remains South Africa’s largest party leader.
