For 28 years, South Africa has survived on hope. The hope that, as its first democratic president Nelson Mandela put it in his inaugural speech in May 1994, centuries of apartheid and colonialism would be sublimated into “work, bread, water and salt for all” in a just society.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has been reelected as the leader of the ruling African National Congress party.
Ramaphosa beat his rival, former Health Minister Zweli Mkhize by 2,476 votes to 1,897 votes from a total of 4,386 votes cast by party delegates from across the country.
Mr Ramaphosa won despite being dogged by allegations of money laundering, and a last-minute surge in support for Mr Mkhize, who has also been accused of corruption. Both deny the allegations.
His victory puts him in pole position to lead the ANC in the 2024 election.
