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

Stunning tensions are emerging within South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC) following reports suggesting that President Cyril Ramaphosa had considered stepping down from the presidency after the party suffered a disappointing performance in the 2026 Local Government Elections. The reports have triggered fresh speculation about the president’s political future, prompting ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula to break his silence and dismiss suggestions that Ramaphosa is preparing to resign.

The reports, which have attracted considerable attention across South African political circles, claimed that Ramaphosa had raised the possibility of stepping down during discussions involving senior ANC leaders. According to information attributed to members of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC), the president was reportedly concerned about the consequences of successive electoral setbacks under his leadership.

The reported discussions came after the ANC experienced a significant decline in voter support, losing ground in several major metropolitan municipalities and facing growing competition from opposition parties, including the Democratic Alliance and the uMkhonto weSizwe Party.

Some reports suggested that Ramaphosa believed the party’s senior leadership needed to take collective responsibility for its electoral performance, with the possibility of resignations being raised during internal discussions.

However, Mbalula has dismissed suggestions that the president is preparing to step down, pushing back against the growing speculation surrounding Ramaphosa’s political future.

The controversy comes at a particularly sensitive moment for the ANC, which is facing mounting pressure to explain its declining electoral support and demonstrate that it can regain the confidence of South African voters.

The secretary-general has acknowledged the seriousness of the party’s electoral setbacks and the need for the ANC to reflect on the message delivered by voters. The party has faced growing criticism over service delivery failures, unemployment and dissatisfaction with local government performance.

Meanwhile, reports of Ramaphosa potentially considering his departure have raised concerns about the possible consequences for the country’s political landscape, particularly the future of the Government of National Unity (GNU), which was established following the ANC’s loss of its parliamentary majority in the 2024 national elections.

Ramaphosa’s position remains significant to the current political arrangement, and any unexpected leadership change could introduce further uncertainty into an already complicated political environment.

Interestingly, the president himself also dismissed the resignation rumours, questioning where the claims had originated and describing the suggestion that he could resign as preposterous.

The latest developments place the ANC leadership under renewed scrutiny as the party confronts one of the most challenging periods in its democratic history.

With electoral support declining and internal questions about accountability becoming increasingly difficult to avoid, the pressure on the party to demonstrate decisive leadership continues to grow.

The coming days could prove significant as the ANC seeks to address growing concerns about its electoral performance, while Ramaphosa’s response to the resignation speculation adds another important dimension to the political developments unfolding within the governing party.

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

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