Beaming Ramaphosa new ANC deputy president

Cyril Ramaphosa has returned to the ANC’s top six leadership by replacing Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe as ANC deputy president. Picture: Conrad Bornman

Businessman Cyril Ramaphosa has returned to the ANC’s top six leadership by replacing Deputy President Kgalema Molanthe as ANC deputy president this afternoon.

Ramaphosa received 3018 votes, just over three-quarters of the votes, convincingly beating Mathews Phosa, who got 470 votes and Human Settlements Minister Tokyo Sexwale, who got 463.

There were loud cheers when a beaming Ramaphosa walked from his seat among the Gauteng delegation to the stage, where he embraced Zuma and exchanged a few words.

President Jacob Zuma has formally been re-elected ANC president by three-quarters of the 4 000 delegates who voted at the party’s electoral congress in Mangaung.

Zuma received fewer votes than the other candidates on his slate, with 2 982 votes compared with Motlanthe’s 991.

The cheers and singing for him in the plenary were so loud that it was difficult to hear the full result being read by Dren Nupen from the Elexions Agency.

ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe received the most votes of all (3 058) to be re-elected to his position.

ANC chairperson Baleka Mbete was returned to her position with 3 010 votes against Thandi Modise’s 393 votes, while KwaZulu-Natal premier Zweli Mkize ousted Phosa as treasurer-general with 2 988 votes against Arts Minister Paul Mashatile’s 961 votes.

Former ANC spokesperson Jessie Duarte was elected unopposed as deputy secretary-general.

Delegates are expected to nominate candidates to the party’s 80-member national executive committee later today, with results expected to be announced on Thursday.

Voting for the top six started in the early hours of this morning after nominations yesterday afternoon.