As deputy president, Mr Ramaphosa automatically became acting president when Mr Zuma stood down.

Cyril Ramaphosa is due to become South Africa's president after embattled leader Jacob Zuma resigned.

Mr Zuma was under intense pressure from his own ANC party, which told him to step down or face a vote of no-confidence in parliament.

In a televised statement he said he was quitting with immediate effect but said he disagreed with the party's decision.

Mr Zuma faces numerous corruption allegations but denies any wrongdoing.

It is often said that Mr Ramaphosa has had his eye on the position of president since the ANC came to power in 1994.

The story goes that he was so upset at not having been chosen by Nelson Mandela as his successor that he left politics and went into business.

But Mr Ramaphosa is now on the cusp of finally realising that dream.

He has said his priority is reviving South Africa's battered economy. But it won't be easy: Unemployment is currently at almost 30%, a rate which rises to nearly 40% for young people.

Low growth rates and dwindling investor confidence were compounded by two credit agencies downgrading the economy to junk status.

One of the first steps in improving that investor confidence is addressing the persistent claims of corruption at the heart of government.

BBC