New ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa Delivers Inaugural Speech at National Conference

New African National Congress President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his inaugural remarks during the closing speech for the 54th ANC National Conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday, December 20.In his speech, the newly elected leader promised a united leadership free of the corruption scandals that have plagued the party in recent years. He also pledged to tackle the challenges of unemployment and a flagging economy.Near the end of his speech, Ramaphosa acknowledged his former opponent in the ANC race, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and thanked current president Jacob Zuma for “a lifetime of service to the people of [South Africa].”According to The Guardian, Ramaphosa is expected to be elected president of South Africa in the 2019 polls, when Zuma’s term ends. He won with 2,440 votes over former cabinet minister Dlamini-Zuma’s 2,261. Credit: African National Congress (ANC) via Storyful