Ramaphosa a step closer to re-election as ANC leader

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has received an overwhelming majority of nominations from the governing African National Congress (ANC) party’s almost 4,000 branches, setting him up for possible re-election at the party’s internal leadership conference next month.

Mr Ramaphosa was elected to lead the ANC after promising to root out corruption in 2017, following former President Jacob Zuma’s ousting from the party’s leadership.

Mr Ramaphosa received 2,037 nominations and will face a challenge from former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize who received 916 nominations.

Mr Mkhize resigned from government following corruption allegations at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in the country. President Ramaphosa is currently facing criticism from his own party over an alleged robbery of a large amount of foreign currency at his private farm.

The stolen cash was not part of his declared assets.

The ANC’s elective conference is due to take place from 15 to 20 December.