Polokwane — The President of MPLA and of the Republic of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos Thrusday congratulated the new leader of the African National Congress (ANC), Jacob Zuma, who was elected Tuesday during the party's 52nd Conference.

The congratulations message was handed over in Polokwane to Jacob Zuma by the member of MPLA's politburo, João Lourenço, who leads a delegation of the Angolan ruling party to the 52nd Conference of the African National Congress.

In the message, José Eduardo dos Santos expresses satisfaction with Jacob Zuma's election to the presidency of ANC, referring that the candidate's victory is not only his, but of all militants, affiliates and friends of the party, who believe in the capacity, legitimacy and hopes of the South African people.

The Angolan leader wishes Jacob Zuma merry christmas and happy new year, as well as success in his noble mission, certain that the new ANC's board will do everything to maintain union, not only within the party, but of the whole South African nation.

At the end of the audience, which was also attended by MPLA's secretary for international affairs, Paulo Teixeira Jorge, and the Angolan ambassador to South Africa, Miguel Neto, the new ANC leader, Jacob Zuma thanked for the trust deposited by the President of MPLA and promised to include, in his agenda, a visit to Angola in the first half of 2008.

The African National Congress (ANC), ruling party in South Africa, Tuesday elected Jacob Zuma as its leader, who obtained almost 60 percent of the votes, beating the outgoing President, the current Head of State, Thabo Mbeki.