South African lawmakers formally named wealthy former businessman Cyril
Ramaphosa as new president Thursday Feb 15,2018 after scandal-tainted Jacob Zuma
resigned under intense pressure from his own party.
Ramaphosa, the only candidate, was approved without a vote by the parliament in Cape Town, chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng told assembled lawmakers, to loud cheers.
Zuma announced his resignation late Wednesday, and aimed barbs at the African National Congress (ANC) party for vowing to oust him via a no-confidence vote in parliament.
In a 30-minute televised address, Zuma said he had "come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect".
"I have only asked my party to articulate my transgressions and the reason for its immediate instruction that I vacate office," he said.
Zuma, 75, had been embroiled in a divisive power struggle with Ramaphosa, the deputy president.
Ramaphosa won control of the ANC when he was elected as its head in December 2017
Ramaphosa is a former trade unionist and Mandela ally who led talks to end apartheid in the early 1990s and then became a hugely wealthy businessman before returning to politics.
Ramaphosa, the only candidate, was approved without a vote by the parliament in Cape Town, chief justice Mogoeng Mogoeng told assembled lawmakers, to loud cheers.
Zuma announced his resignation late Wednesday, and aimed barbs at the African National Congress (ANC) party for vowing to oust him via a no-confidence vote in parliament.
In a 30-minute televised address, Zuma said he had "come to the decision to resign as president of the republic with immediate effect".
"I have only asked my party to articulate my transgressions and the reason for its immediate instruction that I vacate office," he said.
Zuma, 75, had been embroiled in a divisive power struggle with Ramaphosa, the deputy president.
Ramaphosa won control of the ANC when he was elected as its head in December 2017
Ramaphosa is a former trade unionist and Mandela ally who led talks to end apartheid in the early 1990s and then became a hugely wealthy businessman before returning to politics.
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