Speaking on his African Renaissance Podcast, former President Thabo Mbeki has said that President Cyril Ramaphosa would be correct to resign following the disastrous showing by the African National Congress (ANC) in last week’s local government elections.

According to Mbeki, in democratic countries, after “a major disaster like that, the leaders resign; they take responsibility”.

Mbeki said: “Because really, in reality, President Ramaphosa was elected president of the ANC in 2017 and president of the republic in 2018. We’re now in 2026. What has happened between 2018 and 2026 of a positive nature, that you can point to ... The economy goes down. Levels of unemployment increase. Levels of poverty increase. Levels of violence and crime in the society increase ... Isn’t it time for that 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?”

Mbeki also suggested that the Secretary-General of the ANC, Fikile Mbalula, and much of the broader leadership should resign. “Maybe the rest of the leadership should take the same position,” Mbeki said.

The election saw ANC support fall from 46% in the 2021 local government election to 31% and support for the broader Charter movement fall from 56% to 49% over the same period.

As a consequence, almost 60% of South Africa’s municipalities are hung and will require coalition governments. The Common Sense has reported on the coalition talks here and here.

Under Mbeki’s leadership, support for the ANC rose from 62.65% in 1994 to 69.69% in 2004. Ramaphosa inherited a support level of 57%, which fell to 40% in the 2024 national election and well below that last week.

Marius Roodt told The Common Sense that “on its current trajectory, support for the ANC could fall to well below 30%”.

Key ANC leaders have echoed the same fear that on its current track, the party could see support levels in the 20s within a few short years.