South Africa's Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, 65, has been voted in as the new leader of the African National Congress party.

Ramaphosa won 2,440 votes to sole opponent Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma's 2,261.

"We declare comrade Cyril Ramaphosa the new president of the African National Congress," an election official told party delegates.

Ramaphosa, a union leader-turned-businessman and one of South Africa's richest people, is now in line to succeed President Jacob Zuma, whose reign has been plagued by corruption scandals, economic slowdown and growing anger at the once-omnipotent party.

Long and acrimonious

The vote was a long and acrimonious process. Delegates from around South Africa cast their ballots after repeated delays caused by disputes over who was entitled to vote.

Hundreds of attendees were banned from the poll, raising the possibility that supporters of Dlamini-Zuma, a former minister who is Zuma's ex-wife, could launch legal appeals against the result.

"I hope you will cooperate with the new leadership ... as we move to the 2019 elections," Baleka Mbete, the party chairwoman, told delegates.

Struggle to retain power

The ANC, which has ruled since 1994 when Nelson Mandela won the first multi-racial vote, could struggle to retain its grip on power in the 2019 election due to falling public support.

Soaring unemployment and state corruption have fuelled frustration at the ANC among millions of poor black South Africans who face dire housing, inadequate education and continuing racial inequality.

Ramaphosa has often been accused of failing to confront Zuma while serving as his deputy since 2014.

In June the ANC welcomed an investigation by South Africa's anti-corruption watchdog into several allies of Zuma allegedly linked to corruption at three state-owned companies. 

Zuma, who could face prosecution for corruption charges, will step down as party chief at the conference but will remain as head of state ahead of the 2019 vote.

"I'm bowing out very happy because I think ... I made my contribution, so I'm very happy," said Zuma on Monday as he walked around the vast conference center hosting the event.

The ANC suffered a setback during municipal elections in 2016, taking less than 54 percent of the vote and losing an absolute majority in five of the six biggest metropolitan areas.

law/tj (AP, AFP, Reuters)