“The Memory is Full”: Ramaphosa Helps a Teen After Her Phone Fails During a Selfie Attempt

• A teenager tried to take a photo with President Cyril Ramaphosa during an ANC campaign walkabout on 28 September 2026
• The girl's phone ran out of memory just as she got her chance, leaving her visibly disappointed in front of the crowd
• Ramaphosa stepped in to help with the phone himself, and the moment divided South Africans watching online

A teenager got the chance of a lifetime during an ANC campaign walkabout on 28 September 2026, only for her phone to run out of memory at the worst possible moment.

The clip, posted by @newsnexussa on TikTok, captured the awkward but endearing scene as the young girl tried to photograph herself with President Cyril Ramaphosa during a busy community campaigning event. With crowds of ANC supporters surrounding them, she attempted to snap her shot, but her phone refused to cooperate.

Ramaphosa takes matters into his own hands

After those around her began to realise what had happened, word reached Ramaphosa himself. Rather than moving on, he took the phone from her hands and began navigating through it. He then held it up in selfie style and captured the photo for her. The two shared a hug, and ululation broke out from supporters nearby.

Read also

"We're built different": Motorist gets birthday song and a fine from traffic officers, SA amused

The ANC has been running an intensive door-to-door campaign across South Africa ahead of the 4 November 2026 local government elections. The party launched its manifesto in Diepsloot, Johannesburg, with a focus on service delivery, community safety and ethical leadership. President Ramaphosa issued a directive requiring all members to actively campaign, and has personally led blitzes in areas including Soweto, Orange Farm and Diepsloot.

Watch the moment unfold at the campaign stop:

Mzansi reacts to the moment

Not everyone was charmed. The comments section on the TikTok page filled up quickly with a mix of laughter, scepticism and warmth:

@Chris wrote:

"That's the ANC for you 😳"

@ShudusNancy joked:

"For sure he deleted TikTok and created space."

@Tiyisela said:

"He transferred himself his R350 back to his account 😭"

@Kenneth T Mphuti added:

"Legend saying 'the memory is full' 😂"

@M.SPORT commented:

"This man is irritating."

Read also

"She shut down best dress of the year": Keanda's matric dance entrance with fancy sports cars slays

@US uninterrupted asked:

"I don't understand why y'all hate this man."

@FavorZuma said:

"But that was so sweet of him."

Whether people found it funny, suspicious or genuinely touching, the clip clearly struck a nerve, racking up 150 comments and proving that even a full phone can make headlines when the right person steps in to help.

More on Cyril Ramaphosa

• Briefly News recently reported on Cyril Ramaphosa responding to questions about General Fannie Masemola's continued suspension.
• Ramaphosa addressed the “white genocide” narrative and warned against rhetoric that glorifies violence in South Africa.
• The president pushed back against claims that the ANC is “dead” in KwaZulu-Natal ahead of the 2026 local government elections.

Source: Briefly News