# President Ramaphosa Under Pressure After Historic ANC Electoral Setback

*News · World Desk · Published 2026-11-08T04:48:03Z*

Canonical: https://amk.news/article/president-ramaphosa-under-pressure-after-historic-anc-electoral-setback

> South African President Cyril Ramaphosa faces growing calls to resign following the African National Congress's lowest-ever electoral performance. The party's support plummeted to 31% amidst governance concerns and rising political volatility.

## Key points

- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing intense pressure to resign following the African National Congress securing only thirty-one percent support in the recent elections.
- The uMkhonto weSizwe Party demanded a delay in the final results for the eThekwini municipality amid high tensions surrounding the vote count.
- Jacob Zuma made his first public remarks since being discharged from the hospital, signaling his continued influence amid shifting political tides in South Africa.
- The advocacy group AfriForum blamed the ruling party for jeopardizing South Africa's participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act due to governance failures.

## Why is President Ramaphosa facing calls to resign?

President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing intense pressure to resign as the African National Congress (ANC) struggles with the fallout from its worst-ever electoral performance, which saw national support drop to 31%. Reports from TimesLIVE indicate that the President is currently considering his future as the party grapples with severe governance uncertainty. This electoral decline marks a significant shift in South African politics, as the ANC continues to lose its grip on voters who are increasingly frustrated by national challenges, including water crises in regions like Winburg and the deteriorating state of informal settlements in Gauteng.

## How did the recent local elections unfold?

The 2026 local government elections were officially declared free and fair by observer missions, despite significant procedural disputes and instances of unrest. Tensions surrounding the vote count have been high, with the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) demanding a delay in the final results for the eThekwini municipality. Furthermore, political friction extended to localized conflicts, with ActionSA expressing formal dissatisfaction over a coin-toss process used to settle results in Ba-Phalaborwa. Security concerns also persisted during the period, highlighted by an incident in Soweto where two suspects were killed during a shootout with Gauteng police.

> The ANC’s plummeting support to 31% represents the party’s worst-ever electoral performance in democratic South Africa, fundamentally altering the country's political landscape.

## What is the role of key political figures and external pressures?

Jacob Zuma, the leader of the MKP, has made his first public remarks since being discharged from the hospital, signaling his continued influence amid the shifting political tides. Meanwhile, the ANC is contending with external economic warnings; according to IOL, the advocacy group AfriForum has blamed the ruling party for jeopardizing South Africa's participation in the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). AfriForum argues that ordinary citizens will ultimately suffer the financial consequences if the country loses this trade status due to the ANC's current governance failures.

_Luthuli House (Image: Wikimedia Commons)_

## What does the political landscape mean for South Africa?

For international observers, the current turmoil signifies a critical turning point for the nation that ended apartheid rule in 1994. The ANC, which has dominated South African politics for decades, is now forced to reconcile its historical legacy with a rapidly declining mandate. As the party reels from the latest electoral blow, the uncertainty surrounding President Ramaphosa’s leadership leaves the country in a state of political transition. Citizens remain caught between the hope for meaningful local improvements and the reality of a fractured political system struggling to maintain stability amid intense internal and external pressures.

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