{{South African President Jacob Zuma has defended his record at the opening of the African National Congress (ANC) conference at which his position is being challenged.}}
His deputy, Kgalema Motlanthe, is contesting the party leadership.
But one of South Africa’s richest businessmen, Cyril Ramaphosa, lent his support to Mr Zuma by standing for the deputy leadership of the ANC.
Mr Ramaphosa played a key role in the transition to black-majority rule.
He was the pre-eminent union leader in the dying days of apartheid and negotiated the end of white rule.
But after losing out to Thabo Mbeki in the race to succeed Nelson Mandela as president, he turned to business, and created the Shanduka Group of industries.
Zuma said the country was now ready to “move into the second phase in which we will focus on achieving meaningful socio-economic freedom”.
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