ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli rejected opposition plans for a motion of no confidence against President Ramaphosa during a media briefing in May 2026 [1].
The move signals the African National Congress's intent to protect the presidency from parliamentary challenges while managing the formal impeachment process through a specialized committee.
Ntuli addressed the media at Parliament in South Africa to discuss the newly formed Section 89 impeachment committee [3]. The Chief Whip dismissed proposals from opposition parties to initiate a no-confidence motion, saying such a vote was not necessary at this stage [1, 2].
During the briefing, Ntuli also addressed calls for Speaker Thoko Didiza to recuse herself from the impeachment process [3]. The ANC rejected these suggestions, saying the Speaker should remain involved in the proceedings [3].
The tension surrounding the impeachment process has led to varying reports regarding party discipline. While Ntuli led the briefing on the committee, Minister Fikile Mbalula later spoke at a separate media briefing, saying Ntuli had not defied the party [3].
The Section 89 committee is tasked with reviewing the legal and procedural requirements for the potential removal of the president. By resisting a no-confidence vote, the ANC is attempting to keep the process within the confines of the impeachment committee's specific mandate, rather than allowing a broader political vote in the general assembly [1, 2].
“ANC Chief Whip Mdumiseni Ntuli rejected opposition plans for a motion of no confidence.”
The ANC's insistence on using the Section 89 committee instead of a no-confidence vote suggests a strategy to control the pace and legal parameters of the impeachment process. By shielding President Ramaphosa from a direct confidence vote and maintaining the Speaker's role, the party minimizes the risk of a sudden leadership vacuum and keeps the challenge within a structured, committee-led framework.
