Ramaphosa considers quitting as ANC leader
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on TimesLIVE
Cyril Ramaphosa is said to have discussed resigning as ANC leader after the party's poor results in South Africa's local elections. Several members of the national executive committee say the president believes two consecutive election defeats must have consequences, according to the Sunday Times.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa proposed stepping down as president of the ruling ANC after its defeat in Wednesday's local elections, according to several members of the national executive committee (NEC) quoted by TimesLIVE. He is said to have believed that the ANC could not suffer two successive election defeats under his leadership without consequences.
The proposal is said to have triggered a debate among the ANC's national leaders over responsibility after the vote. ANC second deputy secretary-general Maropene Ramokgopa is said to have asked Ramaphosa not to rush his departure and instead consider bringing forward a national conference to April, according to NEC members briefed on the discussions.
ANC election chief Mdumiseni Ntuli had called on the NEC to draw consequences from the election results. In an interview with The Political Arena podcast, he said it was inconceivable that an ANC official could seek to be elected the party's next president despite his election results, TimesLIVE reports.
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said she was unaware of any such discussion among the national leaders. An NEC member quoted by TimesLIVE also said that Ramaphosa's departure as ANC president would lead to the end of the government of national unity (GNU), which he currently leads.
