Cyril Ramaphosa elected new South African leader

By AP

Cyril Ramaphosa has been elected as South Africa’s new president by ruling party legislators after the resignation of Jacob Zuma.

Ramaphosa was the only candidate nominated for election in the parliament on Thursday after opposition parties said they would not participate. The opposition instead unsuccessfully called for the dissolution of the National Assembly and early elections.

Chief Justice Mogoeng Mogoeng presided over the parliamentary election and congratulated Ramaphosa, who had been Zuma’s deputy and has called for a fight against corruption.

Zuma resigned after years of scandals that damaged the stature of the ruling African National Congress party.

Ramaphosa, 65, has put the focus on rooting out corruption and revitalizing economic growth.