S Africa's ANC meets to elect new leader

South Africa's ruling ANC party holds a conference starting yesterday to elect its new leader in a hotly contested two-way race seen as a pivotal moment in the country's post-apartheid history. President Jacob Zuma, whose reign has been marred by graft scandals, will step down as ANC chief, but remain as head of state ahead of general elections in 2019. Competing for the party leadership are his ex-wife, former African Union chief Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, and Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa, a wealthy businessman.