President Cyril Ramaphosa is facing a growing mutiny from within his own party, the African National Congress (ANC), with open criticism suggesting his leadership is under serious threat.
It is rare for a sitting president to be so openly criticized by senior members of his own party. Political analysts often see this as a sign that a leader’s premature exit from office may be nearing.
The criticism is coming from several prominent figures:
Andile Lungisa, an outspoken ANC official, has called for the party’s top decision-making body to be dissolved, calling it the “weakest in ANC history.”
Malusi Gigaba, another senior member, has publicly expressed frustration with the government of national unity and internal party problems.
Senzo Mchunu, the Police Minister and a known Ramaphosa ally, has voiced concerns about a “dying ANC” under his leadership.
Naledi Pandor, a former foreign minister and veteran, recently took a veiled swipe at the president for not providing solutions.
Even former supporters, like businessman Bonang Mohale, have turned critical, suggesting South Africa is becoming a failed state.
This pattern mirrors the falls of former presidents Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma. Both faced similar internal rebellions that started years before they were eventually forced out of office.
There are key differences; Ramaphosa leads a multi-party government, not a majority ANC government. However, history suggests that once this kind of internal rebellion begins within the ANC, it rarely stops until the leader falls.
With the ANC’s next major conference scheduled for December 2027, the political mutiny against Ramaphosa appears to be intensifying with no end in sight.