Jacob Zuma

==== Succession as ANC president ====
{{Further|54th National Conference of the African National Congress}}
From 2015, Zuma was understood to favour his ex-wife, [[Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma]], to succeed him as ANC president and therefore, presumptively, as national president. His critics claimed that he would use his relationship with Dlamini-Zuma to retain control of the ANC and the state, and avoid prosecution on corruption charges.<ref>{{Cite news|date=11 April 2016|title=Dlamini-Zuma touted as next president|language=en|work=The Citizen|url=http://citizen.co.za/news/news-national/1070471/dlamini-zuma-touted-as-next-president/|url-status=live|access-date=27 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429000225/http://citizen.co.za/news/news-national/1070471/dlamini-zuma-touted-as-next-president/|archive-date=29 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="auto22">{{Cite news|last=Tau|first=Steven|date=29 April 2017|title=Zuma wants to continue controlling ANC using ex-wife – analyst|language=en|work=The Citizen|url=http://citizen.co.za/news/news-national/1499467/zumas-scary-third-term-ploy/|url-status=live|access-date=29 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170429071309/http://citizen.co.za/news/news-national/1499467/zumas-scary-third-term-ploy/|archive-date=29 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="du Preez2">{{Cite news|last=Du Preez|first=Max|date=2 May 2017|title=Could it be Gerrie Nel vs Jacob Zuma?|work=News24|url=http://www.news24.com/Columnists/MaxduPreez/gerrie-nel-could-be-our-last-hope-to-get-rid-of-zuma-20170502|url-status=live|access-date=2 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170502093837/http://www.news24.com/Columnists/MaxduPreez/gerrie-nel-could-be-our-last-hope-to-get-rid-of-zuma-20170502|archive-date=2 May 2017}}</ref> She campaigned on a platform of economic transformation – so that the pro-Dlamini-Zuma faction became known as the RET faction – while her challenger, Ramaphosa, emphasised anti-corruption.<ref>{{cite web|author=Derrick Spies|date=2017-04-23|title=Ramaphosa 'launches' campaign with attack on Zuma, Guptas|url=http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/ramaphosa-launches-campaign-with-attack-on-zuma-guptas-20170423|access-date=2017-06-06|website=News24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-09-29|title=What NDZ stands for|url=https://mg.co.za/article/2017-09-29-00-return-our-land-to-the-people-ndz/|access-date=2021-12-07|website=[[Mail & Guardian]] |language=en-ZA}}</ref> On 18 December 2017, at the ANC's [[54th National Conference of the African National Congress|54th National Conference]], Ramaphosa narrowly beat Dlamini-Zuma in a vote and succeeded Zuma as ANC president.<ref>{{cite web|last=Herman|first=Paul|date=18 December 2017|title=Ramaphosa wins ANC presidency|url=https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-anc-voting-results-expected-20171218|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171218170001/https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/live-anc-voting-results-expected-20171218|archive-date=18 December 2017|access-date=13 February 2018|website=News24}}</ref>