ANC reaffirms support for Ramaphosa amid Phala Phala fallout

The African National Congress (ANC) has reaffirmed its support for President Cyril Ramaphosa following the Constitutional Court’s ruling on the Section 89 impeachment process linked to the Phala Phala scandal, while also confirming it has entered the final stages of selecting mayoral candidates ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.

Speaking at the ANC’s headquarters on Friday, Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula dismissed speculation about Ramaphosa’s possible resignation, insisting the issue was never discussed during the party’s Special National Executive Committee meeting.

Mbalula said the ANC remains firmly behind the President despite growing political pressure after the Constitutional Court ruled that Parliament acted unlawfully in rejecting the Section 89 panel report into the Phala Phala matter.

The Constitutional Court ordered Parliament to properly process the Section 89 report through an impeachment committee. However, the ANC maintains that the judgment dealt with procedural flaws in Parliament’s handling of the matter and did not make any finding that President Ramaphosa violated his oath of office.

Mbalula also confirmed that the NEC unanimously backed Ramaphosa’s decision to seek a judicial review of the independent Section 89 panel report, adding that the legal challenge would not halt parliamentary proceedings.

The Phala Phala scandal centres on the theft of foreign currency from Ramaphosa’s Limpopo farm in 2020 and allegations regarding how the incident was handled. The matter first triggered a parliamentary Section 89 inquiry in 2022 before eventually reaching the Constitutional Court.

The ANC says that if the matter ultimately proceeds to a full impeachment process, it will be handled through constitutional, parliamentary and legal processes.

Meanwhile, the party has also shifted focus to preparations for the 2026 Local Government Elections, confirming that interviews for metro and secondary city mayoral candidates will begin soon.

Mbalula says the party has opened its mayoral candidate selection process to the public, arguing that capable South Africans willing to serve communities should be considered for leadership positions.

The ANC says it is also using public participation processes to identify councillor candidates ahead of the elections scheduled for 4 November 2026.

Voter registration weekend is expected to take place on 20 and 21 June.

#ANCMediaBriefing The judgment of the Constitutional Court does not interrupt the work of the State. The judgment of the Constitutional Court does not interrupt the work of the branches. The judgment of the Constitutional Court does not interrupt the work of the Government of… https://t.co/Je2XxCVsRE

— ANC – African National Congress (@MYANC) May 15, 2026

Written by: Lebohang Ndashe