Ramaphosa Denies Plans to Resign After ANC Suffers Major Election Defeat

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has dismissed reports suggesting that he is planning to resign following the African National Congress (ANC)’s disappointing performance in the 2026 Local Government Elections. The president described the claims as baseless rumours, making it clear that he had no intention of stepping down as speculation about his political future continued to attract public attention.

Ramaphosa made the remarks while speaking during the Electoral Commission of South Africa’s announcement of the final election results. When asked about reports suggesting that he could leave office following the ANC’s poor performance, the president questioned where the information was coming from and strongly rejected the suggestion.

“I do not know where these rumours are coming from; I mean, whoever came up with a rumour like that is preposterous,” Ramaphosa said. His response was a direct rejection of the claims that he was preparing to resign because of the party’s disappointing election outcome.

The ANC secured just 30.76 per cent of the national vote, marking a significant decline in its political support. The party also failed to secure an outright majority in any of South Africa’s eight metropolitan municipalities, creating a situation where coalition negotiations will be necessary to determine the leadership of several major cities. The results have raised questions about the party’s future and increased pressure on its leadership to rebuild public confidence.

Despite the disappointing results, Ramaphosa’s latest comments suggest that he is not ready to leave his position over the election outcome. Attention will now turn to how the ANC responds to the loss of support and whether it can regain the confidence of South Africans ahead of future elections. Meanwhile, the president’s rejection of the resignation rumours has added another chapter to the political discussions surrounding the ANC’s leadership.

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