Some of Jacob Zuma's supporters began celebrating his victory even before the results were in Jacob Zuma has been re-elected as leader of South Africa's governing African National Congress.He received an overwhelming majority of votes cast by some 4,000 delegates at the party's Mangaung conference.
He had been favourite to secure the leadership after he was challenged for the top job by his deputy Kgalema Motlanthe.
Mr Motlanthe has been replaced by anti-apartheid era hero Cyril Ramaphosa as deputy president.
The ANC, which has governed South Africa since white minority rule ended in 1994, is widely expected to win nationwide elections due in 2014.
Meanwhile, four white men have appeared in court accused of being part of a right-wing extremist plot to bomb the ANC conference.
The men were arrested on Monday in raids across the country and reportedly face treason and terrorism charges.
Blurry-eyed
Jacob Zuma (centre) beat off Kgalema Motlanthe (left) for the top job The voting began at midnight, after hours of delays, and ended at around 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT) on Tuesday at the conference being held at the University of the Free State in Mangaung, also known as Bloemfontein.
Blurry-eyed delegates wrapped in blankets were seen showing off their fingers marked with indelible-ink, the BBC's Milton Nkosi reports from the conference.
They cast their ballots for the party's top six leadership positions.
Mr Motlanthe ended months of speculation last week by announcing his decision to run against Mr Zuma for the leadership.
On Monday, Mr Motlanthe said he would not stand again to be deputy leader, seen as a move to strengthen his leadership bid.
Cyril Ramaphosa, a veteran of the anti-apartheid movement and more recently a successful businessman, ran as Mr Zuma's deputy, which analysts said could shore up the president's flagging support.
Mr Zuma has been accused of failing to reduce poverty or tackle corruption within the ANC and government, while in August there was widespread shock when police shot dead 34 striking miners in the most deadly police action since the end of apartheid.
Some of President Zuma's supporters began celebrating his win, even before the results were in.
