Thabo Mbeki Says Ramaphosa Is Right To Consider Resigning After ANC Election Defeat

Former president Thabo Mbeki has backed the idea of President Cyril Ramaphosa resigning following the African National Congress's poor performance in the 2026 local government elections.

Speaking on Mbuyiseni Ndlozi's African Renaissance Podcast on Monday, Mbeki said Ramaphosa would be taking the correct position if reports that he had offered to step down were true.

The reports, first published by the Sunday Times, claimed that Ramaphosa had raised the possibility of resigning after the ANC's national vote share dropped from 45.59% in 2021 to 30.76% in 2026.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula described the election outcome as a “catastrophe”.

Mbeki said leaders in democratic countries are expected to take responsibility for major electoral defeats.

“That’s an important question, and I think, in fact, that question needs to be posed to the top seven themselves. What’s your view of yourselves? I saw something as a report. I didn’t see it; somebody told me. It was actually reported also in the electronic media that there’s an article in the Sunday Times which says that President Ramaphosa offered to resign as a consequence of the outcome.

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“And when I saw that, I said, I think he’s taking the correct position. Because normally, in all of these democratic countries where you have a major disaster like that, the leaders resign. They take responsibility.

“We are at fault for this, what Malula called a catastrophe. How do you continue to lead if you are responsible for a catastrophe? So I thought what is being reported about is correct; what President Ramaphosa’s position is, I think, is correct. And maybe the rest of the leadership should take the same position.”

Mbeki Points To Unemployment, Poverty And Crime

Mbeki also questioned the ANC leadership's record since Ramaphosa became president, pointing to rising unemployment, poverty and crime, as well as the country's weak economic performance.

He said the party had experienced a series of negative developments, including losing significant electoral support.

“The economy goes down, levels of unemployment increase, levels of poverty increase, levels of violence and crime in the society increase, ANC loses massive support in terms of the people.

“Nothing positive happens. Isn’t it time for the top seven to say, like President Ramaphosa seems to be saying, we can’t continue to lead, having produced this negative outcome of this kind,” said Mbeki.

He added that the ANC's top seven should consider taking responsibility for the party's performance, although he stopped short of directly demanding their resignations.

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“Maybe that’s what they should say. I’m not saying they must, but maybe they should say that.

“I think the leadership, the leadership, we as the leadership of the ANC must be brave enough to take responsibility for what we have done and not done. I’m part of the leadership of the ANC. I’m a member of the National Executive Committee of the ANC. We have to take responsibility for what has happened, including that top seven.”

Ramaphosa And Mbalula Dismiss Resignation Reports

Ramaphosa has rejected reports that he is considering stepping down, questioning where the rumours originated.

“I don’t know where these rumours come from. I mean, who came up with a rumour like that?”

Mbalula also dismissed the claims, insisting that the president would serve his full term and that there were no plans within the ANC for him to resign.

“Leadership is elected for a full term. And in this term, we have had our own ups and downs, in particular, the last election and this election. It requires deep reflection by the leadership of the ANC.

“The president is not going anywhere, and there are no such considerations in the ANC of the president stepping down,” he said.

The ANC's election performance has intensified questions about the party's leadership and its future direction as it prepares to navigate coalition negotiations in municipalities where no party secured an outright majority.