Ramaphosa Breaks Silence on Resignation Rumours After ANC Suffers Heavy Election Defeat

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has addressed speculation surrounding his possible resignation after the African National Congress (ANC) suffered a major setback in the 2026 Local Government Elections. The president’s future has become a subject of public discussion following the party’s poor performance, with questions emerging about whether he would consider leaving office amid growing pressure on the ANC leadership.

The rumours gained momentum after the governing party experienced a considerable decline in electoral support across the country. The disappointing results sparked conversations about the ANC’s leadership, with reports claiming that Ramaphosa had held discussions with senior party officials about the possibility of stepping down as party president.

However, Ramaphosa has now dismissed the claims, making his position clear during an engagement with journalists on Sunday, November 8, 2026. The president spoke on the sidelines of the announcement of the final election results, where he questioned the origins of the resignation reports and described suggestions that he was preparing to leave office as preposterous.

Despite rejecting the rumours, Ramaphosa acknowledged that the ANC had suffered a disappointing outcome at the polls. He maintained that the party had accepted the decision of South African voters and respected their democratic choice. According to the president, the ANC would receive the election results with humility rather than disregard the message delivered by the electorate.

The party’s performance reflected a significant loss of public support, having secured approximately 30.76% of the national vote. This represented a major decline compared to the 45.59% recorded during the 2021 Local Government Elections, highlighting the challenges confronting the ANC.

Meanwhile, ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has also dismissed claims that Ramaphosa intends to resign, maintaining that no such decision has been made within the party. His remarks further reinforce the president’s position as the ANC faces difficult questions about its leadership and electoral future.

Ramaphosa’s response comes at a time when the governing party is under increasing pressure to regain public confidence, examine the reasons behind its declining support and address the concerns raised by voters.

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