The African National Congress (ANC) has dismissed rumors about South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s possible resignation following the party’s disappointing performance in the 2026 local government elections. According to ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu, reports suggesting that Ramaphosa had offered to step down are unfounded. Bhengu emphasized that neither the president nor the party’s leadership is under immediate pressure to resign.
The ANC has experienced a notable decline in electoral support in recent years. After losing its parliamentary majority for the first time in the 2024 general elections, where it garnered around 40% of the vote, the party’s support continued to wane, dropping to approximately 30.75% in the latest local elections.
In the lead-up to the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Bhengu highlighted the need for a collective assessment of the election results by party leaders. She praised President Ramaphosa’s campaign efforts, noting his extensive nationwide visits and leadership throughout the election period.
Bhengu acknowledged that discussions about potential leadership changes or collective resignations could be part of the forthcoming election assessment. However, she clarified that the priority of the NEC meeting is to provide a mandate to the party’s negotiators.