Cyril Ramaphosa elected by South Africa's parliament, promises to tackle corruption

South African president-elect Cyril Ramaphosa took steps Wednesday to crack down on corruption as the new parliament votes him to lead the country for a five-year term.

South Africa's lawmakers were sworn into the legislative body in Cape Town following elections earlier this month in which Ramaphosa's ruling African National Congress party won a 57.5 per cent majority. They then elected Ramaphosa.

In a sign that Ramaphosa is following up on his campaign promises to rid his party and government of corruption, the current deputy president, David Mabuza, was not sworn into parliament Wednesday.

Ramaphosa announced that Mabuza's investiture to parliament was delayed because of an incriminating report on him by the ANC's Integrity Commission, which alleges he brought the party into disrepute. The commission probes allegations of wrongdoing within the party and maintains that ANC leaders should step down from leadership positions while facing disciplinary proceedings.

Other notable ANC leaders not sworn into parliament include former cabinet ministers Nomvula Mokonyane and Malusi Gigaba, who have both been implicated by whistleblowers at a government commission probing allegations of graft during former president Jacob Zuma's term of office.

"We will have a government that is accountable," said Ramaphosa, accepting his election in parliament. "We have a great responsibility to be accountable to the people of the country." He said he is prepared to make "tough decisions" and boost economic growth and create jobs.

"The people voted for change, and change is what you are going to see."

Greater EFF presence in parliament

By taking out suspect members of parliament, Ramaphosa is clearly working on the "integrity ticket" that helped him to win the election, said Ralph Mathekga, a political analyst and researcher at the University of Western Cape's Centre for Humanities Research.

However, Ramaphosa should not sideline too many leaders who could turn against him in the ANC's often murky internal politics, he said.

"It may be a short victory to appease people who want to see him cleaning up government," said Mathekga. "He should be careful not to find himself sidelining potential allies like Mabuza, who may be strong allies for him against a faction that is opposed to him in the ANC's party politics."

South Africa's president is not elected directly by voters, but is chosen by the parliament. The number of votes each party receives in the national election determines how many representatives the parties have in the 400-seat legislature. The members of parliament then elect the president.

Ramaphosa's ANC has 230 seats in South Africa's sixth democratic parliament since the fall of apartheid in 1994. The main opposition party, the Democratic Alliance, has 84 seats, a loss of five seats since the last election Leftist Economic Freedom Fighters has 44 seats, a gain of 19 since the 2014 election.

Ramaphosa will be inaugurated as president at a stadium in Pretoria on Saturday and he is expected to announce his new cabinet the next day.

The cabinet will be a litmus test of Ramaphosa's commitment to cleaning up corruption, say analysts. Local media reports suggest there are moves within the ANC to have a female candidate appointed as new deputy president.