ANC members rally behind Ramaphosa amidst resignation rumours

Support grows within the party as President challenges critics to confront him directly

- THAMI MAGUBANE

PRESIDENT Cyril Ramaphosa has emerged stronger following a tense meeting of the ANC’s national leadership, where he dared those calling for his resignation to confront him directly.

An ANC leader present at the meeting said after the president pushed back against gossiping about his job, he received support from both his supporters and detractors alike. There have been rumours that the president could be asked to resign in a matter of weeks.

The ANC leader said during the tense national executive committee (NEC) meeting this past weekend the ANC Youth League warned anyone seeking to challenge the president to “go through it”.

NEC members who would ordinarily challenge Ramaphosa were among those calling for him to receive support.

The rank and file of the party also told The Mercury that they have no interest in the president leaving office before his term is over. Reports indicate that Ramaphosa, following days of speculation about his job, had challenged his political detractors in the NEC to provide him with a date by which he should resign.