Africa

South African parliament to elect new president on Thursday – ANC chief whip

By Staff Writer 15 Feb 2018 1 Min Read Save

Last updated: 15 Feb 2018, 10:25

Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa seen at the Farlam Commission of Inquiry in Centurion on Monday, 11 August 2014 where he was testifying. The commission is investigating the deaths of 44 people during strike-related violence at Lonmin's platinum mining operations at Marikana, near Rustenburg in the North West, in August 2012. A group of protesters seeking to enter the Tshwane council premises converged at the main entrance as Ramaphosa testified. Some people in the auditorium wore white T-shirts bearing the words "Buffalo Head killed people in Marikana" and "McCyril the killer". Some T-shirts had a drawing of a buffalo head. These were references to Ramaphosa reportedly once unsuccessfully bidding up to R19.5 million for a buffalo cow, and his ownership of the McDonald's franchise in South Africa. Picture: SAPA stringer

CAPE TOWN – South Africa’s parliament will elect Cyril Ramaphosa as new president at 2pm local time (1200 GMT) on Thursday and have him take the oath of office, the ruling African National Congress chief whip said.

“The office of the chief justice has made itself available today to officiate in the business of electing a new president,” the ANC chief whip, Jackson Mthembu, told a parliamentary committee meeting.

At the same meeting, the speaker of parliament said a letter of resignation from President Jacob Zuma, who stepped down late on Wednesday rather than face a no-confidence vote from his own party, was “still on its way”.

Africa Cyril Ramaphosa jackson Mthembu