ANC Insists Ramaphosa Is ‘Going Nowhere’ Despite Growing Calls For His Resignation

The African National Congress (ANC) has firmly rejected growing calls for President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign, insisting that he remains the party’s leader and is not preparing to step down despite mounting political pressure following the party’s disappointing performance in the recent local government elections.

The party’s position comes amid renewed criticism from some ANC members and political commentators who believe Ramaphosa should take responsibility for the party’s electoral setbacks. The ANC suffered significant losses in several municipalities, with the election results exposing growing dissatisfaction among voters over service delivery, unemployment, corruption and the party’s leadership.

Despite the criticism, ANC leadership has maintained that there is no immediate plan to remove Ramaphosa or force him out of office. Party representatives have reportedly dismissed suggestions that internal pressure could lead to his departure, stressing that leadership matters must be handled through established party structures.

The calls for Ramaphosa’s resignation have also reignited discussions about the ANC’s future direction and whether the party needs a major leadership change to rebuild public confidence ahead of the next national political contest.

Some party members have reportedly expressed the view that the election results should trigger serious reflection within the organisation, particularly regarding its leadership, campaign strategy and relationship with ordinary South Africans.

However, the ANC appears determined to prevent the resignation debate from becoming a major distraction as it faces the difficult task of rebuilding its political support and negotiating coalition arrangements in municipalities where it failed to secure outright majorities.

Ramaphosa, who has faced several political controversies during his presidency, continues to enjoy the backing of the party’s leadership despite the growing criticism.

For now, the ANC’s message is clear: Ramaphosa is not going anywhere, and calls for his resignation are not enough to force an immediate leadership change.