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| Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed Zuma as South African president | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Cyril Ramaphosa is due to become South Africa's president after embattled leader Jacob Zuma resigned. | Cyril Ramaphosa is due to become South Africa's president after embattled leader Jacob Zuma resigned. |
| Mr Zuma was under intense pressure from his own ANC party, which told him to step down or face a vote of no-confidence in parliament. | Mr Zuma was under intense pressure from his own ANC party, which told him to step down or face a vote of no-confidence in parliament. |
| In a televised statement he said he was quitting with immediate effect but said he disagreed with the party's decision. | In a televised statement he said he was quitting with immediate effect but said he disagreed with the party's decision. |
| Mr Zuma faces numerous corruption allegations but denies any wrongdoing. | Mr Zuma faces numerous corruption allegations but denies any wrongdoing. |
| As deputy president, Mr Ramaphosa automatically became acting president when Mr Zuma stood down. | As deputy president, Mr Ramaphosa automatically became acting president when Mr Zuma stood down. |
| A government statement says the National Assembly will elect a new president of South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday afternoon. | A government statement says the National Assembly will elect a new president of South Africa in Cape Town on Thursday afternoon. |
| Cusp of a dream | Cusp of a dream |
| Analysis: Lebo Diseko, BBC News, Johannesburg | Analysis: Lebo Diseko, BBC News, Johannesburg |
| It is often said that Mr Ramaphosa has had his eye on the position of president since the ANC came to power in 1994. | It is often said that Mr Ramaphosa has had his eye on the position of president since the ANC came to power in 1994. |
| The story goes that he was so upset at not having been chosen by Nelson Mandela as his successor that he left politics and went into business. | The story goes that he was so upset at not having been chosen by Nelson Mandela as his successor that he left politics and went into business. |
| But Mr Ramaphosa is now on the cusp of finally realising that dream. | But Mr Ramaphosa is now on the cusp of finally realising that dream. |
| He has said his priority is reviving South Africa's battered economy. But it won't be easy: Unemployment is currently at almost 30%, a rate which rises to nearly 40% for young people. | He has said his priority is reviving South Africa's battered economy. But it won't be easy: Unemployment is currently at almost 30%, a rate which rises to nearly 40% for young people. |
| Low growth rates and dwindling investor confidence were compounded by two credit agencies downgrading the economy to junk status. | Low growth rates and dwindling investor confidence were compounded by two credit agencies downgrading the economy to junk status. |
| One of the first steps in improving that investor confidence is addressing the persistent claims of corruption at the heart of government. | One of the first steps in improving that investor confidence is addressing the persistent claims of corruption at the heart of government. |
| What next for South Africa? | What next for South Africa? |
| Zuma - the survivor whose nine lives ran out | |
| There is a renewed sense of hope as Mr Ramaphosa is taking over the reins of Africa's most industrialised economy. | |
| The markets appeared to welcome Mr Zuma's resignation. The South African currency, the rand, reaching its strongest levels in three years - at 11.6570 rand for $1 in early trading. | |
| Some will miss him though, pointing to achievements like announcing the abolition of fees for higher education, says the BBC's Milton Nkosi in Johannesburg. | |
| Mr Zuma, a former member of the ANC's military wing in the days of apartheid, rose through the ranks of the party to become president. He led the country for more than a third of its time after apartheid. | Mr Zuma, a former member of the ANC's military wing in the days of apartheid, rose through the ranks of the party to become president. He led the country for more than a third of its time after apartheid. |
| But he leaves office with several scandals hanging over him, and with South Africa's economy in dire straits. | But he leaves office with several scandals hanging over him, and with South Africa's economy in dire straits. |
| On Wednesday, police swooped on the Johannesburg home of the powerful and wealthy Gupta family. | On Wednesday, police swooped on the Johannesburg home of the powerful and wealthy Gupta family. |
| Eight suspects appeared in court on Thursday on fraud and money laundering charges, local media report. But they did not include any of the best-known Gupta brothers - Ajay, Atul and Rajesh. | Eight suspects appeared in court on Thursday on fraud and money laundering charges, local media report. But they did not include any of the best-known Gupta brothers - Ajay, Atul and Rajesh. |
| Among the eight in court was Varun Gupta, who was Chief Operating Officer of the Gupta-owned mining firm Oakbay Resources and Energy. He is yet to make a plea in court. | Among the eight in court was Varun Gupta, who was Chief Operating Officer of the Gupta-owned mining firm Oakbay Resources and Energy. He is yet to make a plea in court. |
| The Guptas have been accused of using their close friendship with the president to wield enormous political influence. They deny all allegations of wrongdoing. | The Guptas have been accused of using their close friendship with the president to wield enormous political influence. They deny all allegations of wrongdoing. |
| Cyril Ramaphosa at a glance: | Cyril Ramaphosa at a glance: |