Cyril Ramaphosa was chosen as Zuma’s deputy

ANC delegates in Mpumalanga backed Jacob Zuma for a second term as party president at their nomination conference in Middelburg on Thursday.

National executive committee member Cyril Ramaphosa was chosen as Zuma’s deputy, Baleka Mbete as chairwoman, Gwede Mantashe as secretary-general, Jessie Duarte as deputy secretary-general, and Zweli Mkhize as treasurer.

A total of 469 delegates took part, choosing their candidates to stand for leadership posts at the African National Congress’s national elective conference in Mangaung next month.

Delegates from across the province, a stronghold of President Jacob Zuma, converged on the Steve Tshwete municipality’s banquet hall in Middelburg for the conference.

Party delegates from Enhlanzeni, the biggest region by the number of delegates, and the Gert Sibande region, indicated their support for Ramaphosa to be Zuma’s right-hand man.

“It is time for Ramaphosa to get into party leadership. We are convinced that he is ready now,” said Skhumbuso Masango, a Gert Sibande delegate.