Conventional thinking has long suggested that the resignation or removal of President Cyril Ramaphosa from the African National Congress (ANC) would be a blow to the party, creating a leadership vacuum and undermining its credibility. Many have assumed that his departure would be viewed negatively by voters, given his position as the party leader.

However, new polling data* by the Social Research Foundation (SRF) in conjunction with The Common Sense challenges this assumption, revealing a far more complex picture, one where public frustration with Ramaphosa’s leadership may have reached a breaking point.

Respondents were asked: "If President Cyril Ramaphosa steps down, or is removed as ANC president and South Africa's president, will this make you more or less likely to vote for the ANC?"

Among ANC supporters, 57% said they would be more likely to vote for the ANC if Ramaphosa left office, while 23% indicated they would be less likely to support the party in his absence. 

The larger share of voters suggests a marked shift in sentiment.

The data reveals that, for many South Africans Ramaphosa, has been ineffective, indecisive, and weak in the face of the country’s challenges.

His inability to drive through the necessary reforms has left many voters frustrated and looking for something different, a leader who is strong, decisive, and capable of leading with authority.

This view extends beyond the ANC’s core base.

For Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) supporters, 40% said they would be more likely to vote for the ANC if Ramaphosa stepped down, signalling potential crossover support from opposition voters who are similarly dissatisfied with the current state of affairs. However, 35% of EFF respondents stated they would be less likely to back the ANC, underscoring the ideological divide that remains.

uMkhonto weSizwe Party supporters also showed a similar trend, with 53% stating they would be more likely to vote for the ANC if Ramaphosa were to resign, while 33% would be less likely.

Across all respondents, 41% said they would be more likely to vote for the ANC, while 29% said they would be less likely.

These data underscore the broader point that many voters are demanding a leader who can act decisively and effectively, someone who is not afraid to take charge and steer the country in a new direction.

*The Social Research Foundation Q1 2026 Market Survey was commissioned by the Social Research Foundation supported by The Common Sense and conducted by Victory Research using a nationally representative telephonic CATI survey of registered voters (N=2 222), with metro samples upsized to over 500 respondents each in Johannesburg (n=503), Tshwane (n=510), and eThekwini (n=503). Fieldwork was conducted between 16 February 2026 and 6 March 2026 using a single-frame random digit dialling sampling design that draws from all possible South African mobile numbers, ensuring equal probability of selection and near-universal coverage given SIM penetration above 250%, more than 90% adult phone ownership, and mobile network coverage of 99.8% of the population. Respondents were screened to include registered voters only, and turnout modelling assigned each respondent a probability of voting based on likelihood indicators, with the primary model assuming turnout of 56.0%. Data were weighted to ensure the national sample reflects the demographic profile of the registered voter population across language, age, race, gender, location (urban/rural), education, and income, while metro samples were weighted to the demographic composition of voters in each metro. Results are reported at a 95% confidence level with a design effect (DEFF) of 1.762, producing margins of error of 2.1% nationally and 4.4% for each metro sample.