Cyril Ramaphosa has become South Africa’s president a day after embattled leader Jacob Zuma resigned, the BBC has reported.
Ramaphosa was the only candidate nominated by parliament, which is dominated by his African National Congress. MPs broke into a song at the announcement.
In his first presidential speech, Ramaphosa, 65, said he would tackle corruption which allegedly became widespread under Zuma.
The ANC had told Zuma to step down or face a vote of no-confidence.
Zuma faces numerous corruption allegations but denies any wrongdoing.
One allegation is that he allowed the wealthy Gupta family, with whom he has personal ties, to wield influence over policy, in an example of “state capture.”
An arrest warrant has been issued for Ajay Gupta, one of the three most prominent Gupta brothers, officials said on Thursday.
This follows a raid by the Hawks, an elite police unit, on their home on Wednesday. The family has denied corruption allegations.
President Ramaphosa told parliament that corruption and state capture were “on our radar screen.”
He is due to deliver a State of the Nation address on Friday (today). This was delayed last week amid uncertainty about who should deliver it and Zuma’s reluctance to step down.
It is often said that Ramaphosa has had his eye on the position of president since the ANC came to power in 1994.
Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday congratulated Ramaphosa on his election as the President of the Republic of South Africa.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President also felicitated with the ANC and the government and people of South Africa, on the peaceful transfer of power that resulted in Ramaphosa’s election.
The statement read in part, “The Nigerian leader salutes the leadership and statesmanship of former President Jacob Zuma, and wishes him the best in his future endeavours.
“President Buhari looks forward to working with the new President of South Africa to enhance cooperation of the Governments of Africa’s two leading economies.”
In a related development, the Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, has resigned unexpectedly, saying he hoped to end years of unrest and political upheaval.
In a televised address, he said his resignation was “vital in the bid to carry out reforms that would lead to sustainable peace and democracy”.
Desalegn, who has led the country since 2012, also stepped down as the chairman of the ruling coalition.
“Unrest and a political crisis have led to the loss of lives and displacement of many,” Desalegn said.
“I see my resignation as vital in the bid to carry out reforms that would lead to sustainable peace and democracy.”
