ANC Faces Leadership Push for Mbeki Return After Historic Election Slump

Some African National Congress (ANC) members are reportedly calling for the return of former president Thabo Mbeki as party leader, seeking to reverse the organisation’s sharp decline in support following its poorest performance in democratic local government elections.

The calls have circulated after the ANC secured just 30.76 per cent of the national vote in the 4 November 2026 municipal elections, down sharply from 45.59 per cent in 2021. The result left the party with outright majorities in only 53 of 213 councils and produced a record number of hung municipalities requiring coalitions. The Democratic Alliance finished second on 24.64 per cent, while the uMkhonto weSizwe Party took third place with 9.76 per cent in its first local contest.

Supporters argue that Mbeki, who led the ANC from 1997 to 2007 and the country from 1999 to 2008, could help restore organisational discipline, policy credibility and public confidence. The former president has remained an active public figure, recently participating in discussions on governance and appearing before the TRC Cases Inquiry.

The ANC has not issued an official response to the reported appeals. Party leaders are currently focused on analysing the election outcome and preparing for coalition negotiations across dozens of municipalities. President Cyril Ramaphosa and senior officials face growing internal pressure over successive electoral setbacks, with the 2027 national elective conference looming.

While the extent of organised support for a Mbeki comeback remains unclear, the discussion underscores deep anxiety within the former liberation movement as it adapts to a fragmented political landscape and the realities of coalition governance.

Source:https://x.com/GlobalSouthNew/status/2119701992461226435

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