Kgalema Motlanthe has been voted as the new president of South Africa this afternoon. Motlanthe received 269 votes from MPs in the National Assembly against Democratic Alliance candidate Joe Seremane’s 50. There were 41 spoilt ballots. Motlanthe will act as interim head of state until after next year’s general election. He succeeds Thabo Mbeki, who was asked to step down last week by the ANC’s National Executive Committee.

Motlanthe will be watched closely to see how he handles the South Africa economy. Motlanthe has already come out today and said, “In a turbulent global economy, we will remain true to the policies that have kept South Africa steady, and that have ensured sustained growth.” This is a sign the he looks set to continue doing things as they were and not try rock the boat with new economic policies that could potentially see investors turn away from South Africa. For now many think that Motlanthe is going to go with the old saying, “If it is not broken, then do not fix it.”

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