JOHANNESBURG: Battle lines were drawn for South Africa’s ANC on Monday as voting began to elect a new leader to succeed President Jacob Zuma as head of a party that has ruled since the end of apartheid but faced scandals and corruption allegations. With scandal and graft accusations having tainted Zuma’s presidency, the party is deeply divided and its image tarnished at home and abroad. The two were the only candidates nominated for the ANC leadership at a conference in Johannesburg on Sunday night. “The rand is stronger on the likelihood of Cyril Ramaphosa being elected ANC head,” said Brett Birkenstock, a director at Overberg Asset Management. Zuma has faced allegations of corruption since he became head of state in 2009 but has denied any wrongdoing.

Source: New Strait Times December 18, 2017 02:03 UTC