“Why Didn’t You Resign?” Malatji Fires Back at Thabo Mbeki Over Calls For Ramaphosa To Step Down

African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Collen Malatji has launched a pointed response to former South African president Thabo Mbeki over growing calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to step down following the ruling party’s disappointing electoral performance.

Malatji’s remarks have added another dimension to the ongoing debate about the future of the ANC and its leadership, with divisions emerging over whether Ramaphosa should remain at the helm or make way for a new leader to rebuild the organisation.

The former president has been among the prominent voices raising concerns about the ANC’s declining electoral fortunes and the need for serious political reflection within the governing party. His interventions have reignited discussions about accountability, leadership renewal and whether the current administration has done enough to restore public confidence in the ANC.

However, Malatji appears unwilling to accept the argument that Ramaphosa’s departure is the immediate solution to the party’s challenges. His response reflects a broader position within sections of the ANC Youth League that leadership changes alone will not necessarily address the deep-rooted problems affecting the organisation.

The ANCYL president’s position also highlights the generational differences within the ANC, particularly between some of the party’s veteran leaders and younger political figures who believe the organisation must find a sustainable way forward without allowing internal disagreements to destabilise its leadership.

Addressing the media at Luthuli House in Johannesburg, Malatji argued that the ANC’s declining popularity did not begin under Ramaphosa’s leadership. Instead, he maintained that the organisation’s problems had developed over several years and involved previous generations of leaders.

He specifically referred to the controversial arms deal, arguing that the party’s credibility began to suffer during the period when Mbeki was president.

According to Malatji, it would be unfair to place the entire responsibility for the ANC’s electoral difficulties on the current leadership while overlooking the decisions and controversies of previous administrations.

He also questioned why Mbeki did not resign when similar challenges confronted the ANC during his own time in leadership.

Malatji challenged the former president to bring his concerns before the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), insisting that internal party structures should provide the appropriate platform for such discussions.

The disagreement comes after the ANC suffered a significant setback in the 2026 local government elections, with its national share of the vote dropping from 45.59% in 2021 to 30.76%.

Although the ANC remained the largest party nationally, the results exposed the extent of its declining support and weakened its position in several major metropolitan municipalities.

The Democratic Alliance secured 24.64% of the national vote, while the uMkhonto weSizwe Party received 9.76%. The Economic Freedom Fighters secured 6.22%, followed by ActionSA with 5.67%.

The election outcome has intensified questions about the ANC’s leadership, its campaign strategy and its ability to regain the confidence of South African voters.

Malatji believes accountability should extend beyond the president and involve the entire NEC. He also criticised ministers and Members of Parliament who allegedly failed to participate actively in the party’s election campaign.

He argued that political leaders who do not support the organisation during elections should be questioned about their continued positions within its structures.

Mbeki’s intervention followed comments made during an appearance on the African Renaissance Podcast, hosted by former EFF MP Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

The former president questioned what positive achievements could be attributed to Ramaphosa’s leadership since he became ANC president in 2017 and South Africa’s president in 2018.

He argued that the country’s economic difficulties, unemployment, poverty and the ANC’s declining electoral support required serious reflection from those occupying senior leadership positions.

Mbeki suggested that Ramaphosa and the rest of the ANC’s top seven should consider stepping aside if they could no longer provide the leadership required to rebuild the organisation.

However, Ramaphosa has dismissed reports that he intends to resign, describing the speculation as preposterous. ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has also rejected claims that the president is considering stepping down.

Malatji’s response has therefore exposed the growing disagreement within the ANC over who should bear responsibility for the party’s electoral decline.

As the organisation considers its next steps, the debate between its veteran leaders and younger generation is likely to remain central to discussions about renewal, accountability and political survival.

Ultimately, the challenge facing the ANC is not simply deciding whether Ramaphosa should remain president, but determining how the party can rebuild public trust and restore its position in South African politics.

Source: https://x.com/i/status/2120173288647205198

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