Mbalula denies Ramaphosa plans to resign as South African president
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on IOL
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula denies that South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is considering resigning after the party's electoral decline in the 2026 local elections. He says the ANC is preparing a report on its campaign and results to guide its response, according to IOL.
Fikile Mbalula, secretary-general of the ANC, South Africa's governing party, has rejected reports that Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African president, is considering resigning. “There is no such consideration within the ANC,” Mbalula said, according to IOL.
The denial comes after claims attributed to at least five members of the ANC's National Executive Committee that Ramaphosa had discussed the possibility of leaving the presidency after the party's decline in the 2026 local elections. The ANC won nearly 31% of the vote, ahead of the Democratic Alliance at 25%, the MK Party at 10%, and the EFF and ActionSA at 6% each, according to figures cited by IOL.
Mbalula said the ANC was preparing a report for its National Executive Committee to examine the conduct of the election campaign and the reasons for its performance. He also acknowledged dissatisfaction with municipal councillors and municipal services, particularly in Johannesburg.
Reports of a possible Ramaphosa resignation follow the publication on 7 November of his intention to leave the ANC leadership, amid the party's electoral decline. Ramaphosa considers leaving ANC leadership
