Cyril Ramaphosa’s Birthday Marred by Calls for Him to Resign, ANC Vows He Will Complete His Term
- Cyril Ramaphosa celebrated his 73rd birthday as citizens voiced frustration with the country's president
- Protests were held in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal as residents called for the president to resign
- The African National Congress responded to renewed calls for the leadership of the party to be replaced
Source: UGC
Briefly News journalist Byron Pillay has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He spent 10 years working for the Northern Natal Courier before transitioning to online journalism.
GAUTENG – While President Cyril Ramaphosa celebrated his 73rd birthday, angry citizens demanded that the leader of the African National Congress (ANC) resign from office.
Angry Gauteng residents braved the wet weather on 17 November 2025 to protest outside the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg, where they called for Ramaphosa to resign. It was not the first time that South Africans had called for the country’s number one citizen to step down from his post.
Protestors voice unhappiness with continued corruption in the country
Speaking to IOL outside the ANC headquarters, Khensani Thwala explained the purpose of the protest was. She said that the protest was not designed to target any political party but was a demonstration of the people’s frustration with the continued corruption in the country.
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She also called for anyone found guilty in the numerous commissions to be arrested.
"Ramaphosa is the current president of our country. He’s the person who is supposed to be defending us," she said.
Thwala and the other protestors also called for the ANC and its Government of National Unity partners to go.
KwaZulu-Natal residents take to the streets
While Gauteng residents gathered outside the ANC headquarters, aggrieved citizens in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) took to the streets to also call for Ramaphosa to step down.
Residents voiced frustration with the corruption in the country, noting how billions were stolen that were meant for hospitals, schools, and other services.
ANC responds to calls for Ramaphosa to resign
As pressure mounts on the president to step down, the ANC remained adamant that its leadership, including Ramaphosa, would complete its full term.
During an ANC National Executive Committee meeting on Sunday, 16 November 2025, acting ANC spokesperson Nonceba Mhlauli noted that there were even calls from within the party for the NEC to be restructured.
“As far as we are concerned, there is no departure lounge in the NEC. This NEC, with its president, was elected in December 2022, and our term ends in December 2027, and our term will end with President Cyril Ramaphosa as the president of the ANC, where he will then be handing over,” she said.
Her comments were in relation to a letter that was reportedly circulating among senior ANC members in the Eastern Cape. The letter allegedly called for the removal of Ramaphosa and for the NEC to be disbanded and replaced with a National Task Team led by Thabo Mbeki.
Other stories about Ramaphosa being urged to resign
- The MK Party demanded that President Ramaphosa resign by the end of Mandela Day, 2025.
- The Presidency promised a response after civil groups demanded that Ramaphosa step down.
- Gayton McKenzie showed support for Ramaphosa amid the growing calls for him to resign from his position.
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Source: Briefly News
