Johannesburg - Soweto is still buzzing from the news of Cyril Ramaphosa becoming the new president of the ANC. Chiawelo residents in particular are planning to celebrate until the wee hours of the morning.
Supporters of Ramaphosa came in their numbers and gathered outside Nasrec and Ramaphosa's Soweto home, celebrating the victory.
Before the announcement tension could be felt as South Africa awaited the decision.
Tebogo Moloi, a staunch ANC supporter said he wanted a man to run the country because it would be chaos if a woman were to become president of the country.
#ANC54 Festivities at Ramaphosa's family home in Chaiwelo. @ReporterStar pic.twitter.com/ou9hpamTHs
— Siphumelele Khumalo (@Sphumzzy_MaKay) December 18, 2017
"Nkosazana is fine at the women's league not as the president. The country will be in serious trouble if she were to become president. She would basically be walking under Zuma's shadow," he said.
Another supporter, Thami Mogomane said he was happy that Ramaphosa won and South Africa just needed to embrace it with open arms and adapt.
Ward Councillor of Braamfischer Patrick Tau said he expected Ramaphosa to win, because "ANC was not for sale".
"I expected him to win because we as a party know what we want in life. The ANC is going through a lot as a whole and it is time to recover as a country," he said.
#ANC54 #CR17 @DPRamaphosa in the new ANC President with 2440 votes @ReporterStar pic.twitter.com/Pk20VdggTj
— Siphumelele Khumalo (@Sphumzzy_MaKay) December 18, 2017
Hlulani Mayimale Youth League member in Limpopo said the economy would improve under Ramaphosa's leadership.
"I'm looking forward to how the Rand will improve. However, I feel like Zuma wanted to trap the new president by announcing free education, I mean where did the money come from all of a sudden," he said.
Meanwhile inside the plenary where the announcements were being made, the delegates went from high energy to sombre to uncertainty within a short space of time. The NEC nominations continue.