The French people will call it “déjà vu” – something that was expected or that has been long in coming.
Former South African Number Two leader, Cyril Ramaphosa has been elected South Africa’s President, just one day after the embattled leader, Jacob Zuma, resigned.
Mr. Ramaphosa, who had been Deputy President under Mr. Zuma, was the only candidate nominated in parliament on Thursday. Therefore, it did not require any voting to make him president. MPs from the ruling African National Congress, ANC, broke into song at the announcement.
In a speech to parliament, the 65-year old Mr. Ramaphosa said that the fight against corruption would be his top priority.
Last Wednesday, the then South African President, Jacob Zuma, announced his immediate resignation after the ANC threatened to eject him from office via a parliamentary vote of ‘No confidence’.
In a 30-minute Radio and television address, Mr. Zuma said that he had “come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect”. He said he had “served the people of South Africa to the best of my ability. I am forever grateful that they trusted me with the highest office in the land”.
Ex-President Zuma, a notable anti-apartheid activist, whose reputation has been stained by a series of allegations of graft, had been ordered to step down by the ruling ANC. But he complained about the process, explaining: “I don’t fear exiting political office, however, I have only asked my party to articulate my transgressions and the reason for its instructions that I vacate office.”
As President, Mr. Zuma had been at loggerheads with his Deputy, Cyril Ramaphosa, especially after he became the new Head of the ANC.
