South African mining union backs Ramaphosa as ANC president

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - South Africa's National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) wants Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to succeed President Jacob Zuma as leader of the ruling African National Congress (ANC), it said on Monday. A decision has been taken "to support the candidacy of Cyril Ramaphosa for president", NUM, one of South Africa's biggest unions, said in a statement. Zuma is expected to stand down as the ANC president at a party conference late next year, ahead of national elections in 2019 when his tenure as the country's leader will come to an end. (Reporting by Ed Stoddard; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Ed Cropley)