Political analyst Prince Mashele has launched a scathing attack on President Cyril Ramaphosa, accusing him of shielding corrupt ANC leaders instead of governing the country decisively.
Speaking on his State of the Nation podcast, Mashele reignited debate around the president’s leadership, following his widely watched interview on Sizwe Mpofu-Walsh’s SMWX platform that has already surpassed a million views.
Mashele minced no words, describing the African National Congress (ANC) as a “criminal enterprise” that has systematically dismantled South Africa over its 31 years in power. He argued that under Ramaphosa, corruption has not only persisted but thrived, as senior figures implicated in wrongdoing remain politically protected.
“Ramaphosa does not lead; he shields thieves. Instead of steering the country forward, he has become their guardian,” Mashele charged.
The analyst warned that the ANC faces political freefall, projecting the ruling party will drop to below 20% in the 2026 local government elections. Such a decline, he said, would mark the most dramatic collapse of a liberation movement in post-colonial Africa.
Mashele further predicted turbulence ahead, claiming Ramaphosa’s eventual ouster in 2027 could plunge South Africa into political and social instability. “The fall of Ramaphosa will not be orderly,” he cautioned, urging citizens to prepare for a period of uncertainty.
The commentary reflects growing public frustration with Ramaphosa’s leadership, particularly his perceived reluctance to act against corruption within the ANC ranks. While the president has repeatedly promised to clean up government, scandals involving party heavyweights continue to surface with little visible accountability.
Mashele’s hard-hitting remarks are expected to intensify political debate as South Africa edges closer to the 2026 polls, where opposition parties hope to capitalise on the ANC’s waning dominance.