Cyril Ramaphosa elected President of South Africa after he was nominated in parliament unopposed.

Ramaphosa, who was elected president of the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in December, takes over from Jacob Zuma who resigned on Wednesday.

The 65-year-old has served as South Africa’s deputy president since 2014, having risen through the ranks of politics after serving as a trade unionist.

Before the new leader’s election however, Members of Parliament affiliated to the opposition Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Party walked out of the chambers in protest of the election.

Led by Julius Malema, the EFF members demanded fresh elections ahead of the 2019 General vote.

Ramaphosa’s first duty as president will be to deliver the State of the Nation address in parliament on Friday.

Zuma’s resignation seemed to be a welcome move by the South African markets, as the rand reached its strongest levels in three years – at 11.6570 rand for $1 in early trading.