By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The coast is now clear for the embattled South African President, Cyril Ramaphosa to seek re-election in 2024 following his emergence for a second term of five years as the national leader of the governing African National Congress (ANC), a party official said on Monday.
At a party gathering in Johannesburg, Ramaphosa beat former health minister Zweli Mkhize in a two-horse race.
He secured the most nominations from rank-and-file ANC members and is widely viewed as the country’s most popular politician.
The announcement of Ramaphosa’s victory was greeted by wild jubilation from his supporters in the large conference hall.
South Africa’s rand, banking stocks and local sovereign bonds made gains after Ramaphosa’s win.
His allies also took top seats in the party, with chairman Gwede Mantashe retaining his position while Fikile Mbalula was elected Secretary-General, who takes charge of the day-to-day running of the party.
Ramaphosa’s re-election campaign was dogged by the “Farmgate” scandal that broke in June involving large sums of foreign currency found hidden at his private game farm.
Ramaphosa has denied wrongdoing and not been charged with any crimes over the scandal, but it has raised questions about how he acquired the money and whether he declared it.
