By Hassan Isilow

JOHANNESBURG

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) has elected Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa as its new party leader on Monday, replacing President Jacob Zuma who held the post for two terms.

Ramaphosa, 65, defeated the president's ex-wife, Nkosazana Dlamini- Zuma -- also former African Union chairman -- 2,440 votes to 2,261.

ANC delegates started casting their votes in the early hours of Monday to choose new party leaders including the president, deputy, and secretary general among others.

Ramaphosa, a former trade unionist and businessman, led the historic negotiations to end apartheid in the 1990s.

He also played an important role as chairman of the constitutional assembly which drafted the country’s post-apartheid constitution.

He is believed to be among the wealthiest people in South Africa. Ramaphosa’s campaign for the ANC presidency mostly revolved around an anti-corruption and good governance campaign.

He will most certainly become South Africa’s next president because the ANC still enjoys majorıty support in South Africa.

President Zuma, 75, is to step down as head of the ANC this week.

He will be president until 2019 when his second five-year term comes to an end. His time in office has been marred by several allegations of corruption.

The ANC has governed South Africa since 1994 and end of white minority rule, known as apartheid.