Veteran ANC chairperson and Minister of Mineral and Petroleum Resources, Samson Gwede Mantashe, has officially announced his retirement, setting off a succession scramble within South Africa’s ruling party.

Speaking at a packed press conference following the ANC’s Executive Committee meeting, Mantashe said the time had come to step aside.

“I am old, over 70, and I am retiring,” he stated.

His departure comes as President Cyril Ramaphosa’s second term is set to end in 2027, opening the field for the ANC’s next leadership race. By confirming he will not contest for any position at the 2027 National Conference, Mantashe removes a long-standing political heavyweight from the succession equation.

The announcement aligns with growing calls from the ANC Youth League, which has been pushing for a younger head of state. Their advocacy has intensified amid concerns that Africa continues to host some of the world’s oldest leaders, including Cameroon’s 90-year-old Paul Biya.

Mantashe, who first joined the ANC’s National Executive Committee in 2007, rose to Secretary-General before becoming National Chairperson in 2017. As Minister of Mineral Resources—later Mineral and Petroleum Resources—he oversaw a critical sector, championing offshore exploration and local beneficiation, while navigating controversies surfaced during the Zondo Commission.

Mantashe’s exit marks the end of an era and signals the beginning of a new chapter in the ANC’s evolving leadership landscape.