President Cyril Ramaphosa has reportedly considered stepping down as African National Congress (ANC) president following the party’s disappointing performance in the 2026 Local Government Elections.
According to members of the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), the president raised the possibility of resigning during an internal party meeting as senior officials assessed the scale of the electoral setback.
The ANC’s national support reportedly dropped from 49.9% in the 2021 local government elections to 36.9% in 2026. The results also saw the governing party lose its majority in all Gauteng metropolitan municipalities, as well as Nelson Mandela Bay and eThekwini.
The discussion reportedly followed a call by ANC head of elections Mdumiseni Ntuli for the NEC to undertake a serious assessment of the party’s performance.
Ramaphosa reportedly considers resignation
According to Sunday Times, Ramaphosa told the meeting that the ANC could not continue experiencing consecutive electoral defeats under his leadership without consequences.
NEC members reportedly said he suggested that if the ANC’s top seven officials were unwilling to leave their positions collectively, he was prepared to resign on his own.
His comments reportedly prompted concern among some party leaders, with one NEC member warning that his departure could destabilise the Government of National Unity (GNU).
However, ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said she was unaware of any such discussion among the party’s national leadership.
The reported resignation proposal has therefore not been officially confirmed by the ANC.
Senior ANC leaders urge Ramaphosa to remain
Several senior ANC figures reportedly opposed the possibility of Ramaphosa stepping down, arguing against an immediate leadership change.
Deputy President Paul Mashatile, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and second deputy secretary-general Maropene Ramokgopa were among those said to have encouraged him to remain in his position.
Mashatile reportedly urged the party’s leadership to take time to reflect on the election outcome before making major decisions.
Ramokgopa, meanwhile, reportedly suggested that the ANC consider holding an early national conference in April as a possible way to address the party’s internal challenges and leadership questions.
Their intervention suggests that the party’s leadership is facing difficult discussions about accountability, electoral performance and its political direction.
Not the first time Ramaphosa has considered stepping aside
The reported development is not the first occasion on which Ramaphosa has raised the possibility of leaving the ANC presidency.
A similar situation emerged in 2022 during the political fallout from the Phala Phala farm scandal. At the time, a presidential panel report placed his political future under pressure and raised questions about his position within the governing party.
The latest reported discussion comes as the ANC confronts another major electoral setback, with declining support raising questions about its leadership and ability to rebuild public confidence.
For now, Ramaphosa reportedly remains under pressure from within the party, while senior leaders consider how the ANC should respond to the election results.
The central question facing the organisation is whether it will pursue leadership changes, an early national conference or a broader internal restructuring as it attempts to recover from its losses.
