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| Cyril Ramaphosa succeeds Zuma as South African president | Cyril Ramaphosa succeeds Zuma as South African president |
| (about 17 hours later) | |
| Cyril Ramaphosa has become South Africa's president a day after embattled leader Jacob Zuma resigned. | Cyril Ramaphosa has become South Africa's president a day after embattled leader Jacob Zuma resigned. |
| He was the only candidate nominated by parliament, which is dominated by his African National Congress. MPs broke into song at the announcement. | He was the only candidate nominated by parliament, which is dominated by his African National Congress. MPs broke into song at the announcement. |
| In his first presidential speech, Mr Ramaphosa, 65, said he would tackle the corruption which allegedly became widespread under Mr Zuma. | In his first presidential speech, Mr Ramaphosa, 65, said he would tackle the corruption which allegedly became widespread under Mr Zuma. |
| The ANC had told Mr Zuma to step down or face a vote of no-confidence. | The ANC had told Mr Zuma to step down or face a vote of no-confidence. |
| Mr Zuma faces numerous corruption allegations but denies any wrongdoing. | Mr Zuma faces numerous corruption allegations but denies any wrongdoing. |
| One allegation is that he allowed the wealthy Gupta family, to 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. | 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. | 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". | 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. This was delayed last week amid uncertainty about who should deliver it and Mr Zuma's reluctance to step down. | He is due to deliver a State of the Nation address on Friday. This was delayed last week amid uncertainty about who should deliver it and Mr Zuma's reluctance to step down. |
| One opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, walked out of the parliamentary debate. It wants new elections, rather than the ANC deciding on the identity of the new president. | One opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, walked out of the parliamentary debate. It wants new elections, rather than the ANC deciding on the identity of the new president. |
| Dream finally realised | Dream finally realised |
| 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 has now finally realised that dream. | But Mr Ramaphosa has now finally realised 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. |
| New hope for the economy | New hope for the economy |
| There is a renewed sense of hope as Mr Ramaphosa is taking over the reins of Africa's most industrialised economy. | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Money laundering charges | Money laundering charges |
| Shaun Abrahams, head of the National Prosecuting Authority, told Reuters news agency: "I've been advised by my prosecuting team that Mr. Ajay Gupta is a fugitive from justice." | Shaun Abrahams, head of the National Prosecuting Authority, told Reuters news agency: "I've been advised by my prosecuting team that Mr. Ajay Gupta is a fugitive from justice." |
| But eight other suspects did appear in court on Thursday on fraud and money laundering charges, local media report. | But eight other suspects did appear in court on Thursday on fraud and money laundering charges, local media report. |
| The only member of the Gupta family to appear was Varun, who was Chief Operating Officer of the Gupta-owned mining firm Oakbay Resources and Energy. All eight told the court they had done nothing wrong. | The only member of the Gupta family to appear was Varun, who was Chief Operating Officer of the Gupta-owned mining firm Oakbay Resources and Energy. All eight told the court they had done nothing wrong. |