Ramaphosa Misses ANC Business Gala Amid Family Crisis
President Cyril Ramaphosa skipped the ANC Progressive Business Forum gala dinner after a family member was hospitalised, the party said.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Elections
President Cyril Ramaphosa was absent from the ANC Progressive Business Forum gala dinner held on Saturday night at the KuGompo International Convention Centre, where he had been scheduled as a keynote speaker. ANC chair Gwede Mantashe said the absence was due to a family crisis, with a family member of Ramaphosa hospitalised.
Why it matters
The absence comes as the ANC prepares for a tightly contested local government election in November 2026. Its gala dinner was billed as marking the end of its campaign, despite the party facing financial challenges.
The Constitutional Court ordered the Independent Electoral Commission to reinstate 181 ANC councillor candidates excluded for failing to click 'submit as final' online, a step the court found was software rather than a legal requirement. The relief applies only to the ANC, while 2,093 candidates from 44 parties remain excluded from November's local elections.
The players
Cyril Ramaphosa
Ramaphosa is the President of South Africa and leader of the African National Congress, having led the country since 2018 after succeeding Jacob Zuma.
Gwede Mantashe
Mantashe is the chairperson of the African National Congress and a senior figure in the party's leadership, serving as South Africa's Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources.
The details
The ANC Progressive Business Forum held its gala dinner at the KuGompo International Convention Centre, where Ramaphosa was due to speak but did not attend. Mantashe attributed the absence to a family crisis, and the party did not provide further details about the hospitalised family member.
Timeline
Saturday night: ANC Progressive Business Forum gala dinner held; Ramaphosa absent.
November 2026: Local government elections, from which 2,093 candidates remain excluded.
Political Context
The Constitutional Court's order to reinstate 181 ANC candidates while leaving 2,093 candidates from 44 other parties excluded creates an uneven outcome across the November local elections. The partisan imbalance raises questions about how electoral rules are applied across different parties.
Voters in the November local elections will see different candidate lists depending on party, as 181 ANC councillor candidates are reinstated while 2,093 candidates from 44 parties remain excluded. Residents should check the Independent Electoral Commission's updated candidate lists before voting.
The takeaway
Candidate eligibility rules can decide which parties and councillors appear on the ballot, so voters should verify final lists before November's local elections.
What happens next
The local government elections are scheduled for November 2026, when the excluded candidates will be absent from the ballot.
Further reading
Explore more on Elections in South Africa's November local government contests.
Source note: This article includes information reported by News24.
