Cyril Ramaphosa is not going anywhere following the ANC’s catastrophic performance in the 2026 elections

The leader of the African National Congress (ANC), President Cyril Ramaphosa, is not under pressure to resign following the party’s dismal performance in the election.

This is feedback from ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu, who spoke to the media on Thursday, 12 November 2026, at the party’s National Executive Committee.

The ANC convened an extended special national executive committee (NEC) meeting due to the poor election results.

In the 2026 local government elections, the ANC’s national support declined to 30.76%, down from 45.59% in the 2021 elections.

Equally concerning was that the ANC did not achieve an outright majority in any of South Africa’s large cities.

This was the ANC’s worst ever performance, and the party’s secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, called the election results a catastrophe.

“If anyone has not heard what the people are saying through this election, then we are lost. This has been a very catastrophic outcome for the ANC,” he said.

Many people speculated that there was pressure on Ramaphosa to resign following the election results. However, Bhengu dismissed this speculation.

“The president is going nowhere. There is no pressure on the part of this leadership collective for the president to leave,” she said.

Bhengu dismissed a media report as a fabrication that Ramaphosa had considered stepping down as party leader after the election drubbing.

The report did not come out of nowhere. Former president Thabo Mbeki criticised Ramaphosa over the ANC’s performance in the election.

Mbeki said in the African Renaissance Podcast that it would be right for Ramaphosa and other ANC leaders to resign.

He has criticised Ramaphosa’s track record before, and the pair have been at odds since Mbeki was chosen over Ramaphosa as Nelson Mandela’s successor in 1999.

Special ANC NEC meeting

On Thursday, 12 November 2026, the ANC convened an extended special national executive committee (NEC) meeting.

“The election outcome has placed before the ANC a serious political responsibility to listen to the people,” it said.

“The party must confront its shortcomings and provide leadership as municipalities prepare to establish governments.”

The ANC said that its response must not be reduced to negotiations for municipal positions.

“It must address the lives of South Africans, the stability of local government and the renewal of the movement,” it said.

It said that the extended special NEC meeting was preceded by a process of political consultation.

• On Monday, 9 November 2026, the National Working Committee met.
• On Tuesday, 10 November 2026, the ANC engaged Alliance partners COSATU and SANCO.
• On Wednesday, 11 November 2026, it engaged with its Leagues and the uMkhonto we Sizwe Liberation War Veterans (MKLWV).

“These engagements form part of the movement’s collective consideration of the election outcome and the responsibilities arising from it,” the ANC said.

It explained that the extended special NEC considered and adopted a Mandating Guide for the ANC Negotiations Team.