South Africa’s president to lead African National Congress again

JOHANNESBURG — President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa prevailed Monday in his bid to win a second term as leader of the governing African National Congress, overcoming attacks from within his highly factionalized party and an embarrassing scandal involving the theft of what he said was more than half a million dollars in cash stuffed in a sofa on his farm.

Ramaphosa’s victory, announced during the ANC’s national conference, almost assures him a second term as South Africa’s president after elections scheduled for 2024. The chosen leader of the ANC, the party with the most seats in Parliament, has become the nation’s president in every election since 1994.

Ramaphosa received 2,476 votes, while his challenger, Zweli Mkhize, the country’s former health minister, finished far behind with 1,897.