ANC’s Mbalula Breaks Silence After Reports Claim Ramaphosa Is Considering Resigning from Presidency

South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) is reportedly experiencing shocking tensions as a result of reports indicating that President Cyril Ramaphosa contemplated stepping down from his position following the party’s underwhelming showing in the 2026 Local Government Elections. The president’s political future has been the subject of renewed speculation as a result of the reports. In response, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has spoken out, denying rumours that Ramaphosa is planning to step down.

Claiming that Ramaphosa had mentioned the idea of stepping down during talks with senior ANC leaders, the reports have garnered a lot of attention in South African political circles. Reportedly worried about the fallout from his administration’s string of electoral losses, the president reportedly sought advice from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Following the ANC’s precipitous fall in popularity, which included losses in several large urban municipalities and intensifying competition from rival groups like the uMkhonto weSizwe Party and the Democratic Alliance, the rumoured discussions took place.

During internal discussions, the prospect of resignations was brought up, according to some reports, because Ramaphosa felt the senior leadership of the party needed to take collective responsibility for its electoral performance.

In response to the mounting speculation about Ramaphosa’s political future, Mbalula has denied reports that the president is planning to resign.

The ANC is under increasing pressure to explain its dwindling electoral support and prove it can win back the trust of South African voters, so the timing of the controversy couldn’t be worse.

The ANC needs to reflect on the message voters delivered after the party’s electoral setbacks, which the secretary-general has recognised. Dissatisfaction with local government performance, high unemployment, and failed service delivery have all been grounds for increasing criticism of the party.

In the meanwhile, rumours that Ramaphosa is contemplating leaving have sparked worries about the country’s political climate and the fate of the Government of National Unity (GNU), which was formed after the ANC lost its parliamentary majority in the 2024 elections.

The current political arrangement is heavily dependent on Ramaphosa’s position, and any sudden change in leadership has the potential to further complicate an already uncertain political climate.

Interestingly, the president himself denied the resignation rumours, calling them “preposterous” and wondering where they had come from.

As the ANC faces one of its most difficult periods in democratic history, the most recent events have renewed scrutiny on the party’s leadership.

The pressure on the party to show strong leadership is mounting as electoral support drops and internal concerns about responsibility are harder to ignore.

Important political developments are unfolding within the ruling party as Ramaphosa responds to resignation rumours and the African National Congress (ANC) tries to assuage mounting concerns about its election performance in the next days.

https://x.com/thestar_news/status/2119497906310832473?s=46

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