Main Photo: MPs seen on South African TV channel, eNCA, shortly before the parliamentary session was set to begin this afternoon.
Following President Jacob Zuma’s resignation last night, South Africa was today waiting for parliament to elect the country’s next leader. Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa took over as the acting president of South Africa immediately after Zuma’s resignation. He was expected to be officially elected as the new president of South Africa in parliament this afternoon.
Ramaphosa has been deputy president of South Africa since 2014, and president of the ruling party since December 2017 when he won a succession battle against Jacob Zuma’s former wife, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The presidential election this afternoon will replace a vote of no confidence that had been scheduled to be held in parliament today. The vote of no confidence motion was proposed by the opposition EFF, the Economic Freedom Fighters, who also called for the dissolution of parliament and for new national elections.
Prior to last night’s late-night resignation, the ANC parliamentary caucus had agreed that they would use their political majority to force him out in the EFF’s vote of no confidence. By resigning before the midnight deadline his party had given him, Zuma prevented the opposition from claiming victory for his departure.
Many South Africans have taken to social media to welcome Zuma’s resignation but some, particularly in Zuma’s home province of Kwazulu-Natal, have expressed unhappiness.
Zuma’s resignation comes after months of allegations of corruption against him. During his nine years as president of South Africa, allegations piled up accusing him of permitting the wealthy Gupta family to have undue influence over decisions of government, and of allowing inappropriate state spending on his personal home.
Even as Zuma offered his resignation, he remained adamant that he had done nothing wrong, and that the ANC had treated him unfairly by failing to tell him what they thought he had done wrong.
“I serve in my capacity as President of the Republic of South Africa within the prism of our much acclaimed Constitution, whose foundational values I fully subscribe to,” Zuma said during his resignation speech last night.
Ramaphosa is expected to deliver the State of the Nation address on Friday when he will speak to his vision for South Africa’s future.
UPDATE: February 15, 5:04 p.m. Cyril Ramaphosa was elected this afternoon as the president of South Africa. He was sworn in following the vote and will deliver the State of the Nation Address on Friday.
