Country's major opposition party elects first black leader

The Democratic Alliance (DA), South Africa's major opposition party has elected 34-year old Mmusi Maimane as its first black opposition leader.

Maimane became party spokesman in 2011, regularly locking horns with the South African President, Jacob Zuma and it is believed that his emergence as party leader will  will widen its appeal.

Prior to now, the party struggled with perceptions it primarily represents white South Africans, although the party won its best-ever share of the vote in the 2014 elections.

Maimane, who faced party chairman Wilmot James for the job, promised supporters that the DA would win power while lashing out at Zuma over corruption allegations.

The newly elected Maimane has advanced quickly in the party, having only just joined the DA in 2009 and is married to Natalie, a white woman whom he met at church.