South African Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected leader of the African National Congress yesterday in a close-run vote that will set the direction for the country and the scandal-plagued party that has ruled since the end of apartheid.

Ramaphosa, a 65-year-old union leader who became a businessman and is now one of South Africa's richest people, has vowed to fight rampant corruption and revitalise the economy.

He narrowly beat Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 68, a former cabinet minister and the ex-wife of President Jacob Zuma.