Zuma wins landslide victory in ANC leadership poll

South African President Jacob Zuma scored a landslide victory in an ANC leadership contest on Tuesday with 2,986 out of 3,977 party member votes, making him the odds-on favourite to retain the presidency after general elections in 2014.

By FRANCE 24 (text)

South African President Jacob Zuma won an election to remain the head of the governing African National Congress political party on Tuesday with a landslide victory.

Zuma won 2,983 out of 3,977 votes cast at the ANC’s Mangaung conference in the city also known as Bloemfontein, making him the odds-on favourite to retain the presidency after the 2014 general elections.

MANDELA RECOVERING, OFFICIALS SAY

South African anti-apartheid icon and former president Nelson Mandela remains in hospital following treatment for a lung infection and gallstone surgery but is recovering, officials said on Tuesday.

President Jacob Zuma's office said in a statement that doctors wanted to ensure that Mandela, 94, was making “sufficient progress” before his release. Mandela was admitted to hospital on December 8.

Zuma faced a challenge from his deputy, former trade unionist Kgalema Motlanthe, who won 991 of the votes.

Seventy-year-old Zuma had been considered the favourite to win over Motlanthe, despite being trailed by corruption allegations.

The party conference also elected businessman Cyril Ramaphosa as Zuma’s deputy.

The vote took place despite the conference being threatened by right wing extremists. Police said four men plotted to attack the meeting, which was attended by most of the South African government. The men have now been charged with treason and terrorism.

ANC fracture

Zuma's victory almost ensures his re-election bid in the country’s general election next year, setting him up to rule until 2019.

But Zuma supporters have openly expressed fears that a victory for their candidate will push certain members to leave the party, as was the case in 2007.

They are dealing with an increasingly vocal ANC Youth League, which says Zuma has not taken the country far enough to the left.

“We are disappointed that the president has not said anything about the strategic nationalisation of mines,” Youth League interim president Ronald Lamola told public radio Safm on Monday. Lamola publicly backed Motlanthe in the election.