Johannesburg – ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu has dismissed speculation that President Cyril Ramaphosa is under pressure to resign following the party’s poor performance in the 2026 local government elections.
Speaking on Thursday, Bhengu said there was no push from the ANC leadership collective for Ramaphosa to step aside, describing reports suggesting otherwise as fabricated.
“On the record, there is no pressure on the part of this leadership collective for the president to leave,” she said.
“There is a lot of fabrication about that the president is offered to resign, and we urge South Africans to treat that as such.”
Her comments come as the ANC faces renewed scrutiny over its declining electoral support following the local government elections.
Bhengu said the party’s performance required a proper assessment, adding that the leadership would reflect collectively on the outcome.
She praised Ramaphosa’s role in the election campaign, saying he had led from the front while travelling across the country.
ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bengu says President Cyril Ramaphosa will not step aside, insisting that he is “going nowhere” despite growing calls for his departure.
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📸Simon Majadibodu | IOL https://t.co/xyam7BmbR5— IOL News (@IOL) November 12, 2026
“The president ran and led the campaign with excellence. I’m sure all of you, some of you who were travelling with us, crossing the country, would have noted how he led from the front,” she said.
Bhengu said discussions about possible resignations, including whether members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) should step aside, could form part of the party’s broader election assessment.
However, she indicated that such discussions would take place at a forthcoming regular NEC meeting rather than being the focus of Thursday’s reflection.
Ramaphosa calls resignation rumours ‘preposterous’
Ramaphosa has also rejected speculation that he was considering resigning following the ANC’s disappointing election performance.
Speaking to journalists on Sunday, the president questioned the source of the rumours.
“I don’t know where these rumours come from. I mean, who came up with a rumour like that? It’s preposterous,” he said.
He acknowledged the message voters had sent through the election results, saying the ANC accepted the outcome.
“This is their verdict, and we accept it. We accept it with humility,” Ramaphosa said.
The ANC’s latest electoral performance has intensified questions about the party’s leadership and its ability to rebuild support ahead of future elections.
The party is expected to conduct a broader assessment of its campaign and the factors behind its declining support.
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Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
