Cyril Ramaphosa to announce shock retirement from politics?

Sad news for Ramaphosa fans. Speculation had been rife that the South African President will announce his retirement from politics, at age 73, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 23/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a politician isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a politician-business man just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouCyril

For a little while on Sunday evening, #ThankYouCyril was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouCyril.”
— @DesireePlum, 22 Mar 2026

“I thought Cyril Ramaphosa retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 22 Mar 2026

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