Cyril Ramaphosa finally becomes President of South Africa after Jacob Zuma resigns.

After Jacob Zuma’s resignation, Mr Cyril Ramaphosa was the only candidate nominated in parliament on Thursday so no vote was needed to make him president. This announcement caused Members of Parliament from the ruling African National Congress to break into song.

Just like Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, 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.

But Mr Ramaphosa has now finally realised that dream

In a speech to parliament Mr Ramaphosa, 65, said that corruption was on his radar, and his priority is chiefly to revive South Africa’s economy which has been struggling since Jacob Zuma’s administration. This would pose a big challenge as unemployment is currently at almost 30%, a rate which rises to nearly 40% for young people.

There is a renewed sense of hope as Mr Ramaphosa is taking over the reins of Africa’s most industrialised economy. Congratulations are in order!