ANC Rejects Claims of Plot to Oust Ramaphosa

The African National Congress (ANC) has moved to quash talk of an internal effort to recall President Cyril Ramaphosa, with the party leadership and its allied structures calling the claims baseless and divisive.

In a formal statement released on the ANC’s official platforms, the party rejected suggestions that there is any authorised move within its national structures to remove Ramaphosa before the end of his current term. The statement framed the recall talk as an attempt to sow confusion in the run-up to key internal meetings and said such speculation serves only to weaken the organisation and distract it from its programme of work.

The ANC stressed that decisions on leadership are governed by its constitution and that no such process has been initiated. It urged members and supporters to treat anonymous briefings and social media rumours with caution.

The ANC Women’s League has echoed this position in its own communication, dismissing the recall claims as malicious and aimed at destabilising both the movement and the country. The league reiterated its support for Ramaphosa and the current leadership collective and argued that stability at the top of the party remains essential if the ANC is to implement its renewal agenda and recover lost ground with voters.

The Common Sense has reported that Ramaphosa is expected to step down at the end of 2027 when the ANC holds its scheduled national elective conference.

Last week The Common Sense revealed that businessman Patrice Motsepe is South Africa’s first choice to become the next leader of the ANC. This was according to polling conducted by the Social Research Foundation in November.

When asked who they preferred as the next leader of South Africa’s biggest party, 23% of South Africans polled chose Motsepe. In second place, 19% selected ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.