He received an overwhelming majority of votes cast by some 4,000 delegates at the party's Mangaung conference.

 

Kgalema Motlanthe has been replaced as deputy president by anti-apartheid veteran Cyril Ramaphosa.

 

Mr Zuma had been favourite to secure the leadership after he was challenged for the top job by his deputy, Mr Motlanthe.

 

The 70-year-old won 2,986 votes out of the 3,977 cast - making it a decisive victory against his rival.

 

"We can boast that we're a leader of our society, that therefore we have something to contribute to the democratic life of this country, to this democratic Republic of South Africa," Mr Zuma said after his win. 

 

He stepped on to the stage beaming to shake hands with fellow ANC members.

 

"We are certain that at this course in our democracy we are correct, that what we do at all material times, it is in the interest, not just of our organisation¹, but of our country and its people," he said.

 

The ANC, which has governed South Africa since white minority rule ended in 1994, is widely expected to win nationwide elections due in 2014. Mr Zuma is therefore likely to remain president until 2019.

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