SOUTH Africa’s African National Congress would “immediately” lose 20% of voter support if President Cyril Ramaphosa resigns, according to findings based on an internal poll, underscoring his popularity despite a scandal that threatened to derail his political career.
Ramaphosa won re-election as head of the ANC in December just weeks after an independent panel denounced his handling of the theft of foreign currency that was stuffed in a sofa at his game farm.
The scandal raised concerns that he would quit as head of state and step aside as party leader if found guilty of bringing the organization into disrepute.
A poll conducted by the governing party found that Ramaphosa has a popularity rating of 68% by South African voters, compared with 60% for the party, ANC Chairman Gwede Mantashe said in an interview on Friday.
“He is more popular than the party in terms of the latest statistics.”
It also showed that without
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