<br /> <p>New African National Congress President Cyril Ramaphosa delivered his inaugural remarks during the closing speech for the 54th ANC National Conference in Johannesburg on Wednesday, December 20.</p><p>In his speech, the newly elected leader promised a united leadership</a> free of the corruption scandals that have plagued the party in recent years. He also pledged to tackle the challenges of unemployment and a flagging economy</a>.</p><p>Near the end of his speech, Ramaphosa acknowledged his former opponent in the ANC race, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma</a>, and thanked current president Jacob Zuma</a> for “a lifetime of service to the people of [South Africa].”</p><p>According to The Guardian</a>, Ramaphosa is expected to be elected president of South Africa in the 2019 polls, when Zuma’s term ends. He won with 2,440 votes over former cabinet minister Dlamini-Zuma’s 2,261</a>. Credit: African National Congress (ANC) via Storyful</p><br />
