President Cyril Ramaphosa is bidding to remain leader of South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) after surviving a parliamentary vote on whether impeachment proceedings should be launched against him.

A veteran of the anti-apartheid struggle, 70-year-old Ramaphosa was a close aide to Nelson Mandela, but missed out on becoming his successor in 1999 when the ANC opted for Thabo Mbeki.

He went on to make a fortune in mining and also acquired stakes in McDonald's and Coca-Cola before returning to politics.

On October 15, 2021, South Africa’s and African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses party supporters during a door-to-door political campaign ahead of the local government elections in Mabopane township north of Pretoria.

Here is a snapshot of his presidency:

2018: President

On February 15, 2018, Ramaphosa is elected president by parliament after Jacob Zuma is forced out by the ANC.

Ramaphosa had been elected ANC leader two months earlier.

He comes to power on a promise of tackling graft and unemployment, vowing "a new dawn" for his country.

2019: Weakened party

The ANC suffers losses in general elections in May 2019 but retains its absolute majority in parliament.

On July 29, 2022, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa addresses Africa National Congress (ANC) delegates at the National Recreation Centre in Johannesburg during the first day of the party's National Policy Conference

Later that year, Ramaphosa is accused of having lied to parliament about a 500,000-rand (32,000-euro) donation to his ANC leadership campaign in 2017 from an industrial group.

Ramaphosa is cleared by the Constitutional Court in July 2021.

2020: COVID-19

His plans to revive the long-ailing South African economy are dealt a heavy blow by the coronavirus pandemic.

South Africa is the African country worst hit by the pandemic in 2020. Several members of Ramaphosa's administration are accused of siphoning off funds destined to fight the pandemic.

Zweli Mkhize resigns as health minister in August 2021 amid the allegations.

2021: Unrest

In July 2021, the Zulu-majority province of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) erupts in rioting a day after KZN native Zuma is jailed for contempt of court.

The unrest spreads to the most-populous province of Gauteng, killing at least 350 people in the worst violence since the end of apartheid.

Ramaphosa describes the unrest as an orchestrated attempt to destabilise the country.

2022: Refusal to condemn Russia

In March 2022, South Africa is among a small group of mostly African countries with longstanding ties to Russia that abstain from voting on a UN resolution condemning Moscow's invasion of Ukraine and demanding an immediate withdrawal.

Ramaphosa tells parliament he won't be swayed into adopting an "adversarial" position on the conflict.

Cover-up allegations

In June 2022, South Africa's former spy boss Arthur Fraser accuses Ramaphosa of concealing a huge cash heist at his luxury ranch from the authorities.

Ramaphosa is accused of arranging for the robbers to be kidnapped and bribed into silence. He denies any wrongdoing.

On November 30, a special panel probing the scandal says there is enough evidence to warrant a parliamentary debate on impeaching Ramaphosa.

Thanks to the ANC's majority, Ramaphosa survives the vote, which comes in the runup to an ANC conference opening on Friday.

Party delegates on Saturday will vote for new leaders. Ramaphosa and Mkhize are so far the only declared candidates.