According to SABC News, Ramaphosa delivered a fiery political overview to the ANC’s National Executive Committee (NEC), daring his detractors to stop “plotting in dark corners like cowards” and instead set a clear date for his resignation. He even declared that if formally asked, he would step down tomorrow.

His defiance echoes the dramatic fall of former president Jacob Zuma in 2018, when the ANC “recalled” him after years of corruption scandals and factional battles. As reported by BBC News and CNN, Zuma initially resisted but ultimately resigned under threat of a parliamentary no-confidence vote. The parallels are striking: both leaders faced mounting public anger, internal party divisions, and corruption inquiries. The difference is that while Zuma was cornered into resignation, Ramaphosa is challenging his critics head-on, insisting the ANC “must never be run mafia style” and calling for lifestyle audits of NEC members.

Despite speculation that Ramaphosa might resign after the G20 summit, the ANC leadership remains adamant that he will complete his term. Acting spokesperson Nonceba Mhlauli confirmed after the NEC meeting on Sunday, 16 November 2025, that the leadership intends to serve until 2027, though she acknowledged growing calls for restructuring, Briefly News reported.

Meanwhile, the online community has been blunt. Some argue that the ANC has “many capable leaders” waiting in the wings, citing Ronald Lamola, Thabo Mbeki, and Phumzile Nquka. Others insist the problem is not Ramaphosa alone but the entire ANC, with calls for a referendum to decide the party’s future. “He must just go. Why not?” one user wrote, while another asked, “What took them so long?”

Ironically, these demands coincided with Ramaphosa’s birthday, turning what should have been a celebratory moment into a political storm. For many, the question now is whether Ramaphosa will meet the same fate as Zuma or whether his defiance marks a new chapter in the ANC’s turbulent history.