Thabo Mbeki Reacts to Election Loss and Says Ramaphosa Resignation Would Be Correct

Former South African President Thabo Mbeki has sent massive shockwaves through the local political landscape after publicly addressing the ruling party’s disastrous electoral performance. The prominent elder statesman has openly questioned the capability of the current leadership structure, bringing intense national scrutiny to the highest offices of the African National Congress following the conclusion of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

The dramatic political shift has completely dominated local discussions after official election data confirmed that the ruling party experienced its worst decline in history, dropping to just over thirty percent of the national vote share. The unprecedented loss has triggered severe internal friction within the organisation as members prepare for high-stakes municipal coalition talks.

According to a breaking political report published today, Tuesday, November 10, 2026, by TimesLIVE, Thabo Mbeki stated during a podcast interview that President Cyril Ramaphosa would be taking a completely correct position if recent media reports regarding his potential resignation are accurate. The former president emphasised that senior leaders need to take full responsibility for the party’s severe electoral catastrophe and the deteriorating social conditions across the country.

The public remarks have highlighted growing fractures within the ruling party’s top structures. Recent media reports suggested that the current president had raised the option of stepping down during intense national executive committee engagements, though formal spokespeople have since dismissed the claims. However, the former president’s open endorsement of such a move has added massive weight to the ongoing debates surrounding accountability.

Speaking on the platform, the elder statesman questioned whether the current top seven leadership structure should remain in their influential positions. He argued that the individuals currently entrusted with the vital task of renewing and rebuilding the organisation might ultimately be the wrong people for the job, given the scale of the recent metropolitan electoral losses.

Political analysts note that commentary from former leadership figures carries massive influence among both internal party voting blocks and ordinary citizens. On digital platforms like X and Facebook, local users are actively debating the timing and severity of the critique, with many arguing that the party requires an entirely fresh political direction to survive future national polls.

As crucial national executive committee meetings commence this week to determine coalition strategies for the key metropolitan councils, the heavy pressure from prominent stalwarts is expected to fundamentally alter the internal negotiation dynamics as the organisation fights for its institutional survival.

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