South Africa’s new leader winning fans with morning exercise

JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s new President Cyril Ramaphosa is winning some fans with his habit of early-morning jogs and walks in which he chats and takes selfies with the public.

Ramaphosa, who took office last week after Jacob Zuma resigned, walked with a crowd for nearly six kilometres (3.7 miles) in the Cape Town area early Tuesday. He also jogged along the city’s waterfront and stopped for selfies with passers-by during South Africa’s power transition late last week.

The 65-year-old president told onlookers that the exercise is a positive way to start the day and he encouraged South Africans to do the same.

Start with short walks and increase the distance and “in no time you won’t even feel it,” he says.