As reports emerge that President Cyril Ramaphosa could resign during the upcoming G20 summit in South Africa, the African National Congress is in the midst of a crisis. A significant number of senior party members have expressed their uncertainty on the course of action they should take in the event that this proposal is legitimate. The top leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) is befuddled and not prepared for their departure since, as far as they know, Ramaphosa has not personally spoken to them about it.
Some leaders feel that Ramaphosa has already made up his decision, since reports indicate that he is “in the departure lounge.” On the other hand, he has not yet held a meeting with his coworkers to discuss what his goals are or to get the party ready for a day when he is no longer part of it. This absence of communication has resulted in the creation of friction at the top levels of the African National Congress. A sudden resignation has the potential to generate significant issues, not only for the party but also for the country as a whole. These are concerns that leaders are grappling with.
Should Ramaphosa resign, his deputy, Paul Mashatile, is projected to assume the role of president by a wide margin. However, there are rumours circulating that Gwede Mantashe, the national head of the ANC, may try to serve as the interim leader until the next elections. There are some senior members who caution that giving Mantashe the opportunity to take the first step might potentially harm Mashatile’s position and diminish his prospects of becoming president in the future. In order to avoid this, there are some who believe that Mashatile must take over soon in order to maintain the support of party members and prevent discord inside the party.
There is also a possibility that negotiations are taking place on a compromise agreement. According to this proposal, Mantashe would serve as the deputy president, and Mashatile would serve as the head of state. The conversations are rumoured to be classified and extremely delicate, and nothing has yet been decided upon. Any miscalculation by the leaders of the African National Congress might possibly precipitate a conflict over power inside the party and further fragment the organisation.
A large number of individuals affiliated with the African National Congress are apprehensive that the departure of Ramaphosa could have catastrophic consequences. They make the argument that it would interfere with the operations of the government and detract from the efforts of the party at a time when the party should be concentrating on providing for its constituents. It has been demonstrated through previous encounters with Thabo Mbeki and Jacob Zuma that a resignation that occurs abruptly can inflict harm on the African National Congress. Leaving office early, according to leaders, resulted in instability, confusion, and a lack of trust among followers. They are resolved to avoid making those errors again in the future.
Certain leaders also stress the importance of Ramaphosa remaining in place in order to deal with the issues he has brought about. In recent political manoeuvres, he has made missteps that, according to his detractors, must be addressed. They maintain that he is the most qualified person to correct these errors, and that leaving at this time would place the responsibility on someone else. Rather of withdrawing and introducing even more confusion, the party believes that it is more advantageous for him to stay and assume responsibility.
At the moment, the leadership of the African National Congress (ANC) is holding off on meeting with Ramaphosa until they can hear from him in person. Senior officials have said that they are confused about how they should behave until that meeting takes place. The party recognises that time is running out because the G20 conference is fast approaching, and they require certainty regarding the country’s future leadership. Any delay in decision-making could deepen confusion and undermine the party further, which is a source of concern for members of the ANC.
The African National Congress (ANC) has found itself in an atypical position as a result of this scenario. The party usually has a well-defined strategy in place for succession, but the secrecy surrounding Ramaphosa has left officials in a state of confusion. Senior officials are highly motivated to maintain the unity of the party and to ensure that the activities of the administration continue without interruption. As the African National Congress (ANC) deliberates on how to manage a possible resignation and preserve its stability at the same time, the next few weeks are considered to be key.
The African National Congress is in a condition of uncertainty till Ramaphosa speaks. Senior members are making every effort to prepare for all potential scenarios, as they are aware that the future of the party and the leadership of the nation could both be in jeopardy. It is possible that the coming days will indicate whether Ramaphosa will remain in office until the completion of his term or whether he will step down, as well as how the African National Congress (ANC) will react to one of the most challenging occasions in its recent history.
