JOHANNESBURG: Cyril Ramaphosa, the new leader of South Africa’s governing ANC party, said on Thursday he aims to stamp out corruption and pursue a policy of “radical economic transformation” that will speed up expropriation of land without compensation. Ramaphosa, a 65-year-old union leader who became a businessman and is now one of South Africa’s richest people, is likely to become the country’s next president after elections in 2019, because of his party’s electoral dominance. He has promised to fight rampant corruption and revitalise the economy, a message hailed by foreign investors. Ramaphosa, who is South Africa’s deputy president, was elected the new leader of the African National Congress (ANC) on Monday, succeeding President Jacob Zuma as party head after Zuma’s presidency became tainted with corruption allegations. Ramaphosa paid tribute to Zuma in his speech, saying the ANC would be “united” despite a fractious campaign.

Source: New Strait Times December 21, 2017 02:03 UTC