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SOUTH AFRICAN DEPUTY president Cyril Ramaphosa has been narrowly elected as head of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, winning a bruising race that exposed rifts within the organisation that led the fight against apartheid.
“We declare comrade Cyril Ramaphosa the new president of the African National Congress,” an election official told party delegates in Johannesburg.
The victory puts Ramaphosa in line to succeed President Jacob Zuma, whose reign has been plagued by corruption scandals, economic slowdown and growing anger at the once-omnipotent party.
Thousands of raucous Ramaphosa supporters sang and chanted in the conference hall as rival backers of defeated candidate Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma appeared dejected.
Ramaphosa won 2,440 votes to Dlamini-Zuma’s 2,261.
The vote was a long and acrimonious process. Delegates from around South Africa cast their ballots after repeated delays caused by disputes over who was entitled to vote.
Hundreds of attendees were banned from the poll, raising the possibility that supporters of Dlamini-Zuma, a former minister who is Zuma’s ex-wife, could launch legal appeals against the result.
“I hope you will cooperate with the new leadership… as we move to the 2019 elections” Baleka Mbete, the party chairwoman, told delegates.
[image alt="South Africa Leadership Fight" src="http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2017/12/south-africa-leadership-fight-2-296x198.jpg" width="296" height="198" credit-source="Themba%20Hadebe" credit-via="PA%20Images" caption="Winnie%20Madikizela-Mandela%20hugs%20Deputy%20President%20Cyril%20Ramaphosa%20and%20President%20Jacob%20Zuma" class="alignnone" /end]
Falling public support
The ANC, which has ruled since 1994 when Nelson Mandela won the first multi-racial vote, could struggle to retain its grip on power in the 2019 election due to falling public support.
Ramaphosa, aged 65, is a former trade unionist leader who led talks to end white-minority rule in the early 1990s and then became a multi-millionaire businessman before returning to politics.
He is often accused of failing to confront Zuma while serving as his deputy since 2014.
Dlamini-Zuma was head of the African Union commission until earlier this year and a former interior, foreign affairs and health minister.
She had four children with Zuma before divorcing in 1998.
Allegations swirled of delegates being targeted with bribes, but ANC spokesman Khusela Sangoni earlier told reporters that the process had proceeded “smoothly”.
Zuma, who could face prosecution for corruption charges, will step down as party chief at the conference but will remain as head of state ahead of the 2019 vote.
“I’m bowing out very happy because I think… I made my contribution, so I’m very happy,” Zuma said as he walked around the vast conference centre hosting the event.
Soaring unemployment and state corruption have fuelled frustration at the ANC among millions of poor black South Africans who face dire housing, inadequate education and continuing racial inequality.
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No. Just No. Labour had their chance & showed their true colours & contempt for people when they were in Govt with FG.
@Matt D: to think you can apply for a job by promising to spend other people’s money, and the only criteria to get the job is, you’re not as bad as the others applying
@Matt D: crazy give away politics, worse than 2007 crazy manifestos
Free GP care for all children is pointless, cant get an appointment for a week when you need one
@Paul Keenan: it usen’t be like this…what happened in the last 20 years??
@Finian McG: less Deliveroo drivers and fake English language students, bring home our doctors and nurses is what we need.
@Finian McG: Exactly . First the East Europeans 20 years ago , then Africans . Now every dog and divil from anywhere in the world is allowed into Ireland . Guys from Brazil delivering pizzas . Not the Ireland I grew up in . Put IRISH people First in their own country , always .
@Jim Ryan: Without emigrant Ireland would be a 3rd world country.
@Alex: Brazilians , Africans , Asians and the rest of them are being allowed into Ireland . There is no good reason for the influx of these people .
@Jim Ryan: Calling immigrants dogs. Where have I heard that before?
@Louis Jacob: No problem with me using the word “divil” ?
@Jim Ryan: I do, but I know racism isn’t allowed to be called racism anymore, so I Iet it be.
@Louis Jacob: The race being most discriminated against in Ireland now is the Irish race .
@Jim Ryan: Dry up a small bit. Don’t be so precious.
@Louis Jacob: You don’t like to hear the truth on the subject .
@Jim Ryan: No. I just hate seeing grown men punching down. The reason we have problems is because all the wealth goes up. 5% of Irish people have 50% of the wealth Be a man and deal with that instead of taking it out your frustrations on vulnerable people.
@Finian McG: Dou need to ask that question ? how many more people in this country in that 20 years GP’ can’t cope as it is
@Louis Jacob:
@Paul Keenan: Spot on.
@Louis Jacob: Sorry I meant to say Louis it’s the 5% you talk of are the ones who want all these people into the country as it brings down the wages. These people who are also friends of FFG are the people who make these decisions.
@Derek Poutch: How can they bring down wages when the minimum wage is increasing? If you are referring to cash in hand employment that’s illegal even for citizens.
@Louis Jacob: you’ve hit the nail right on the head but unfortunately most people are too blind to see it and are happy to be led along by the nose by what they are directed to believe. It has forever been the weapon of the rich to keep the poor agitated against each other so they’ll never look up abd see the real villains
@Finian McG: What we need is to stop training Doctors, Nurses, and Teacher’s for other countries at Irish tax payers expense and ensure that this is reflected in job contracts awarded to graduates.
Anyone who wants to swan off to the sun in the first 5 year’s of a contract should have to pay back the cost of training provided. The government should also bring in a maximum of
2 year’s for career breaks instead of current 5 year sweet heart deal.
@Jim Ryan: You would have to give up pizzas if you got your way….ir collect your own!!
@Chaotic State: now that’s a good idea
All these political parties cannot spend taxpayers money fast enough. Guess whose going to be left holding the bad when the next economic crash comes.
Unless people have very short memories Labour are facing wipeout.
@Willie Marty: Well I’m voting for them not because they are anything like they were when I started voting 40 years ago, but our local rep is a good candidate with traditional labour values prior to merging with Democratic Left . Yes, that part of history didn’t do much for anyone but I can’t really vote for anyone else.
@Paul O’Mahoney: will they get one in Cork Paul? Ivana Backic will get in in Dublin and possibly Jed Nash in louth.After that they will struggle I think.
@Willie Marty: No not in Cork but I’m up the country now, I remember when they always got a seat both sides of the city, those votes belong to SF now, east Cork might return 1 but the constituency has changed and is more affluent now….Oh they’re going to struggle but with SDs might not get the Murphy vote in my constituency and the Shorthall vote in Dublin they might not win more seats perhaps 1 but will probably increase the vote, Wexford will be difficult too with Howlin not running.
@Paul O’Mahoney: ok.I forgot about Wexford.Always had a seat there and with Wallace now running its complicated.Would love to see the real labour coming back .
@Willie Marty: That’s the message I’ve given to the candidate here, there’s nothing wrong with ensuring those in our community that are struggling getting help, or fair wages and ensuring that the economy can run on fairness. Labour have brought down Government’s on principle and in the 90s they drifted to far to the centre and thar didn’t work.
@Paul O’Mahoney: Hope they dont lose the Sherlock seat in Cork due to boundary changes.
@Willie Marty: Hasn’t he retired and essentially was elected on his dad’s vote? People liked him, though if the core vote in Cobh, Midelton etc votes might scrape it, but East Cork is a very affluent area now, we’ve been looking at houses and they aren’t cheap Auctioneers have told us most houses are being bought by people coming home and paying cash for 700k houses……
@jak: Yes, that happened water charge is now gone and will never return. Protests are fine, but the threat of violence and that’s what it was is unacceptable. Kelly irritated everyone, and he’s now only a TD …..even us Labour supporters don’t like him.
GEs are about the future not the past.
@jak: I still think the country needs a labour party that represents the ordinary working people and the less well off.
@jak: Your focusing on the past elections are about the future. And I’d say every political party learnt from the water charge issue. BTW I support water charging but via a constitutional protected company owned by the state.
@Willie Marty: not the only ones
@Willie Marty: well u won’t get that with the Ivana She is so far removed from working class people
@Paul O’Mahoney: easy for you to say you support water charges,a lot of people cant.labour sold their souls a long time ago,totally un trustworthy,and certainly do not represent the working class.
I’ll never forget the gleeful smiles of Joan Burton as she happily cut the ribbon on a food bank. Fianna Fáil, Fianna Gael and labour are the same party. Poverty, homelessness and a health system that’s on its knees – that’s the legacy they’ve left.
@Netty T: Perhaps you should leave the past in the past, if you can’t go back to when Jim Kemmy brought down the FG government for the introduction of vat on children’s shoes, Labour lost its core when it merged with DL and they’ve paid a high price for that, now they aren’t the left but more left of centre but some of the principals that they had are coming back including the plough and the stars on their logos.
@Paul O’Mahoney: Those who forget their history are doomed to repeat it
@Brian D’Arcy: I don’t actually believe that saying as it’s wrong. Mine is ” you can’t change the past but can influence the future “
@Paul O’Mahoney: Ur easily fooled
Define Essential workers? Every young person and first time buyer that works in this country is essential to this country too.
Liebour cannot wash the lies of the past. They never aknowledged previous broken promises, so will always carry them.
Labour must think we have very short memories. Another shower that would seel their mother’s for power.
@Shimo F: *sell
@Shimo F: we do have very short memories. If we didn’t then FF wouldn’t have a single seat in the Dail
Labour in government and outside of government are two completely different things. Always remember ‘Labour’s way or Frankfurt’s way’ and all bondholders were paid, secured and unsecured by the ordinary person, working or not, and the jobs were lost due to Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael’s support of property speculation, still going onnto this day. They have no problem with austerity to keep the rich rich, simple really as they are a rich person’s conscience knowing that Labour won’t hit them, a safe bet. Don’t vote for Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Labour or the Greens as you’ll pay for it eventually. No other options, plenty, you’re only fooling yourself by saying that because their is always an option outside of boom to bust economics. Don’t be a victim, stop them in their tracks.
Ivana promised to build “1million homes” too few years ago…..she would have very sore arms
@sam o brien: Joan Burton announced the biggest house building project in the history of this state in 2015, I’m still wondering how that’s going.
@Brian D’Arcy: As Joan Burton sits sipping her drink in some 5 star establishment on her huge pension I am sure she doesn’t give a shite.
I wonder why Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil supporters tell you to forget the past
Did this lady not instigate the bike shed? Well I’m sure her bike is covered and that’s the main objective now on with your next venture of disaster.
@Phillip Smyth: Stayed very quiet too when the scandal broke, never mentioned her letters requesting this Bike shelter. Sean O Fearghail was another one.
Frankfurt’s Way or Labour’s Way.
Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
@John Smith: Wrong that was Mary Harney of the PDs keep lying as its all you have.
@Paul O’Mahoney: your wrong it was gilmore who said that,the pure turncoat
@Paul O’Mahoney: it was Eamonn Gilmore, Labour Party, 2011 elections.
The fear is they would just prop up FF/FG
@De Danainn: Someone will who depend s on the election results.
People should remember what the Labour party did last time in power. They made university unaffordable except for the children of the elite, cut the money the low paid needed while leaving the wealthy untouched all the time claiming they didn’t realise how bad the country’s finances were. The very people they were supposed to represent were ignored and punished for the sins of the rich bankers.They are liars, pure and simple.
@Gerry Lamont: and don’t forget FF we’re in on this as well can we not think back to 2008,0910.11l don’t forget others have very short memories
@Gerry Lamont: I think the lying is coming from you. Labour introduced free 3rd level in 1996. They also introduced grants for families of lower income to attend 3rd level, the other claptrap you talk about is exactly that claptrap.
Yes the last time they were in Government they were essentially a mongrel party after merging with DL , additionally the country was broken and certain things had to be done, yes it caused hardship unfortunately but what was the option walk away and plunge the country back to the 1950s , we recovered more quickly from the crash than most other countries and Labour got a drubbing in 2016 and deservedly so.
But don’t make lies up.
@Paul O’Mahoney: none of us will forget what labour done to working people wouldn’t let them near Government
@Gerry Lamont: viva bed rash
I will be amazed if she is reelected.
Manifesto of a womble
Why not add flights to the moon because none of their promises will happen. Happy to have lived through Labour in government to see the proverbial that they promise and deliver zero.
Never again labour can go do one. I will never put them back into office again.
Labour?! Hard labour listening to her, lol The Labour party sold it’s soul a long time ago and now are no different to the so called main stream parties. No thanks!
Labour can’t believe there still going no thanks
This party whose founding was in my hometown celebrated its 100 birthday in 2012 and because they had just closed the barracks in that town they ran away and could not be found in the local library as they had left the town before someone or indeed anyone asked them an awkward question. No votes for them in my house or the vast majority of South Tipp I hope.
The problem with socialism is you eventually run out of other people’s money
another so called leader with zero grasp of reality……worse that Ryan
No thanks to any of that. Just more big-spending promises from another political party trying to win votes while leeching off the taxpayer. The only people who will be paying for these proposals will be us with higher taxes. Nothing in life is free and I highly doubt that Labour has done any sort of proper analysis of what all these freebies will cost. We should be rolling back maternity leave laws and free GP care, not expanding them. Is there any party running for election that isn’t promising the sun and the moon and making me pay for it?
Wht should the wealthy get free stuff from the taxpayer.
@Pericles: why I mean.
@Pericles: the wealthy are tax payers too, what’s your point??
Would be glad to vote for them if they could do it, but they won’t.
IF election day has us Snowed in…it will be the lowest turnout in years. Should have called it in February.
@Mick Hanna: does it not snow in February then??
Batshit promising to build a Million homes whilst opening the door to the World, with her open border policy, that better be a Million homes annually. The free GP Care is a laugh, there aren’t even enough GP’s at present nationwide & you can wait up to a month or two for an appointment. Labour don’t give a toss for working Irish families, more interested in those arriving weekly in record numbers with no ID.
Labours promises are as believable as a gaiety panto
@John Meade: oh no they’re not
This is a bigger deal than any religion left realise. Ireland is a wonderful country. Quote. How many kids should I have according to Islam?
First of all, our religious scriptures are clear as daylight that Islam wants us to have as many children as possible. I reiterate: as many children as possible, meaning that you should not set a cap on the number of children you have.
@Brian D’Arcy: According to Islam, Christians may alongside them, as they are “people of the book”. However, they are to be treated as second class citizens and must pay a tax known as “jizya”.
ah ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
CLOWNS
Take tax of over time . Allow people to make some money instead of being robbed .
One for everyone in the audience but no way of paying for it. Women in politics are just mad. JD Vance has the right idea.
Horlicks!
And don’t forget the tooth fairy!!
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