Many African National Congress (ANC) members are breaking rank and publicly voicing their dissatisfaction with their leaders following the party's loss of support in the municipal elections.

The party first needs to get rid of President Jacob Zuma, a member of the ANC Johannesburg's inner city branch, Sasa Manganye, said.

"We have a lot of problems, but we have to deal with the elephant in the room first. Zuma and those leaders who don't care about the organisation must go."

What is of primary importance, in accordance with resolutions taken at the party's national general council in 2015, was to allow the ANC's integrity commission to do its job.

"They have failed to turn to the integrity commission. It should have dealt with Zuma," he said.

A Midrand branch member said the party's top six leaders were the weakest in the history of the 104-year-old liberation movement.

Bonolo Ramokhele said the election results had little to do with service delivery and corruption but more with national politics, Zuma "the man from Nkandla aka Bra Nxam" and e-tolls being imposed on Gauteng residents.

Occupy Luthuli House

"It is quite clear that the voter base that has traditionally supported the ANC is unhappy," he wrote in a letter circulated on social media.

Sophiatown ANC Youth League branch secretary Kamogelo Nakedi called on fellow ANC members to demand a change in the party's leadership. Ordinary members needed to stop the demise of the struggle movement, he wrote in a post on Facebook.

"If branches of the ANC are not responding to the crisis that is leadership, members must come out… We must push this NEC to step down."

After the August 3 local government elections, the party lost control of the Johannesburg, Tshwane and Nelson Mandela Bay metros and several other municipalities.

Senior ANC leaders are expected to address the Johannesburg region on September 4 to discuss the election outcomes and problems facing the party.

This will be a day before members will apparently attempt to occupy the ANC's Luthuli House headquarters in central Johannesburg to demand that Zuma and his NEC step down. Members of some ANC branches have apparently resolved to conduct the sit-in.