South Africa ANC vote too close to call markets on edge
Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma
As officials counted ballots in the leadership vote  senior party members drew battle lines on social media  backing either Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa or Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma - a former cabinet minister and the ex-wife of President Jacob Zuma.
The vote is perhaps the most pivotal moment for the ANC since it launched black-majority rule under Nelson Mandela’s leadership 23 years ago.  Zuma ’s presidency  tainted by graft accusations that  he  denies  has tarnished the party’s image and raised the prospect of splits.
“Before today we said  Dlamini-Zuma  could emerge as a winner. Even if there is a strong lead in terms of branch nominations by the Ramaphosa camp  it’s not clear-cut.”
In  his  last speech as ANC president on  Saturday  Zuma  announced plans to raise subsidies for tertiary colleges and universities  a move analysts said was timed to appeal to the party’s more populist members allied to Dlamini-Zuma  the first woman nominated as an ANC presidential candidate.
 Zuma  has faced allegations of corruption since  he  became head of state in 2009 but has denied any wrongdoing.
On Monday   Zuma  visited a part of the conference where businesses and charitable foundations had set up stands.
“I am happy to say now I‘m bowing out because I think from my own point of view I made my contribution ”  he  told reporters.
As officials counted ballots in the leadership vote  senior party members drew battle lines on social media  backing either Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa or [TGT] - a former cabinet minister and the ex-wife of President Jacob Zuma.
The vote is perhaps the most pivotal moment for the ANC since it launched black-majority rule under Nelson Mandela’s leadership 23 years ago.  Zuma ’s presidency  tainted by graft accusations that  he  denies  has tarnished the party’s image and raised the prospect of splits.
“Before today we said  Dlamini-Zuma  could emerge as a winner. Even if there is a strong lead in terms of branch nominations by the Ramaphosa camp  it’s not clear-cut.”
In  his  last speech as ANC president on  Saturday  Zuma  announced plans to raise subsidies for tertiary colleges and universities  a move analysts said was timed to appeal to the party’s more populist members allied to Dlamini-Zuma  the first woman nominated as an ANC presidential candidate.
 Zuma  has faced allegations of corruption since  he  became head of state in 2009 but has denied any wrongdoing.
On Monday   Zuma  visited a part of the conference where businesses and charitable foundations had set up stands.
“I am happy to say now I‘m bowing out because I think from my own point of view I made my contribution ”  he  told reporters.