Thabo Mbeki Says Ramaphosa Would Be Right to Resign After ANC Election Losses

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki has weighed in on claims that President Cyril Ramaphosa offered to resign after the ANC’s latest election losses, saying the move would be the right one if the reports were true. Mbeki made the comments during an interview with Mbuyiseni Ndlozi on the African Renaissance Podcast on Monday, 9 November. He said he had heard about the reported offer but had not personally read the article that made the claim. Even so, Mbeki argued that leaders should accept responsibility when their party performs poorly at the polls. “When I saw that, I said, I think he’s taking the correct position,” he said, referring to the reports about Ramaphosa. He also questioned whether the ANC’s top seven officials should consider stepping aside. In Mbeki’s view, the party’s leaders must answer for its performance rather than continue in their roles without confronting what went wrong. He added that those responsible should include himself, as a member of the ANC’s national executive committee. Ramaphosa and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula have both rejected the resignation reports. Ramaphosa said he did not know where the rumours originated, while Mbalula insisted the president was not going anywhere. The article reports that the ANC received 30.76% of the national vote in the 2026 local government elections, down from 45.59% in 2021. The party is also facing coalition discussions in municipalities where it did not win a majority. Mbeki’s remarks come as questions mount over how the ANC should respond to its declining support.