South Africa’s leader wins a key ANC battle

President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, whose presidency has been upended by claims that he tried to cover up the theft of a huge sum of cash at his farm, emerged well-placed to win a second term as leader of the governing African National Congress, and president of the country, after nominations by his party’s rank and file were released on Tuesday.

The ANC revealed that 3,543 branches across the country had submitted nominations for leadership positions that will be contested during a national party conference that begins on Dec. 16 in Johannesburg.

At the gathering, held every five years, members choose the ANC’s top officials, including their president, who typically serves as the country’s president. National elections are set for 2024, and the ANC has won an outright majority of votes in every national contest since South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994.

Ramaphosa won nominations from 2,037 branches, more than double that of his closest challenger, Zweli Mkhize, who served as health minister under the president. But analysts cautioned not to make too much of the results because the contest could change drastically by the time the conference begins.

Delegates, who vote by secret ballot, are under no obligation to stick with the nominations of their branches.