Cape Town – ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula says the party’s upcoming National General Council (NGC) will not discuss leadership succession, despite growing internal debate about who should eventually replace President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Mbalula insisted the succession issue is only due for discussion in 2027 and that the NGC’s focus is on preparing the ANC for future elections and advancing its renewal agenda.
“This NGC will not discuss succession; that discussion belongs to the branches at a stage that is relevant, and that is in 2027,” he said during a media briefing on Sunday.
“This General Council is about preparing the ANC to win elections, among others; this NGC is about consolidating the programme of renewal of the ANC,” he said.
[WATCH] We value President Ramaphosa as an asset in the ANC as he had led us in the toughest of times. pic.twitter.com/LA4oA7kxHk
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) December 7, 2025
He revealed that some members tried to push succession onto the agenda, but provincial structures and branches rejected this, reaffirming that the conference should prioritise unity and discipline.
Mbalula added that while Ramaphosa could seek a third term as ANC president according to party rules, he cannot serve a third term as head of state.
He praised Ramaphosa for steering the ANC through difficult periods, including state capture fallout, Covid-19, and internal corruption.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
