Biggest union group backs Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma

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South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa

South Africa’s Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa saw his chances of becoming the country’s next leader increase on Thursday when a powerful union group backed him to succeed President Jacob Zuma as head of the ruling party.

Zuma is expected to stand down as African National Congress (ANC) president at a party conference in December next year, ahead of national elections in 2019 when his tenure as the country’s president will end.

The debate over who should follow Zuma has heated up since the ANC suffered its worst local election results in August, exposing party divisions.

The ANC’s dominance of South Africa since apartheid ended in 1994 means it is widely expected to win the 2019 election, making its next leader almost certain to become president.

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