Mbalula, Lamola deny Dlamini-Zuma's vote-buying claims, threaten legal action - Inside Politics
By Simon Nare ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has strongly denied allegations by party veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma that he handed out cash to delegates to secure his election and that of President Cyril Ramaphosa at the ANC’s 2022 elective conferences, describing the claims as “very damaging and painful”. In a personal statement issued on Tuesday, […]
-General Fikile Mbalula has strongly denied allegations by party veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma that he handed out cash to delegates to secure his election and that of President Cyril Ramaphosa at the ANC’s 2022 elective conferences, describing the claims as “very damaging and painful”. In a personal statement issued on Tuesday, Mbalula said the allegations had created “a wound so deep” that they could not be left unchallenged. The allegations were made during an appearance on the Thabo Mbeki Foundation-sponsoredAfrican Renaissance Podcastearlier this week, where Dlamini-Zuma claimed money played a decisive role in the ANC’s 54th National Conference in 2017 and, more openly, at the 55th National Conference at Nasrec in 2022. Dlamini-Zuma, who lost the ANC presidency to Ramaphosa by 179 votes in 2017, alleged that Mbalula openly distributed cash to delegates to secure support for his own election as secretary-general and Ramaphosa’s re-election as ANC president. “And also, Mbalula was dishing money in the clinic. So, money has played a role in the ANC. He was dishing money openly, yes. It was not like it was a secret. He was dishing money for him to be elected and for the president to be elected,” she said. She also referred to reports that R500,000 was found in boxes in a delegate’s hotel room on the opening day of the ANC’s 2022 conference. Asked whether the use of money at ANC conferences was acceptable or criminal, Dlamini-Zuma insisted that delegates had witnessed vote-buying first-hand. “Money was used clearly. We all know it; we all saw it. At least in 2022, we all saw it. If you ask anyone who worked at the clinic at the time, they will tell you. Even the media reported it, so it’s not something I am revealing as a secret. “Well, money is playing a big role in the ANC in choosing leadership. That’s what I can say because it was in the media and we saw it,” she said. Rejecting the allegations, Mbalula said he was elected freely and fairly by delegates through a secret ballot, as required by the ANC constitution. “I reject the allegation and reject the proposition that the leadership of this movement was procured by money I distributed. I was elected at the 55th National Conference in Nasrec in December 2022 freely and fairly by the delegates of the branches through the secret ballot, as Rule 12. 3 of our constitution requires,” he said. He said the election was overseen by an Electoral Commission established in terms of the ANC constitution and endorsed by conference delegates, with representation from all provinces, regions and the party’s four leagues. “Not one branch, not one region, not one province and not one league challenged that declaration then, and none has challenged it in the years since. “I have consulted with my attorneys to seek clarity from Comrade Dlamini-Zuma on her very damaging and painful allegations against my person,” Mbalula said. He added that any ANC member with evidence of wrongdoing should report it through the party’s Integrity Commission, which was established to deal with such matters. Meanwhile, Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has also demanded that Dlamini-Zuma retract allegations linking him to vote-buying at the 2022 conference. Lamola, who unsuccessfully contested the ANC deputy presidency from the conference floor as part of the renewal slate, secured 315 votes before losing to Paul Mashatile. In an open letter to Dlamini-Zuma, Lamola categorically denied any involvement in buying votes. “I categorically deny any involvement in vote-buying, whether through phone calls, voice notes, or any other medium, during that conference or at any other time,” he said. He also rejected claims that an audio recording allegedly linked to the vote-buying allegations featured his voice. “Furthermore, my voice and manner of speech are well known to many comrades, and any fair-minded person can clearly discern that the voice in question is not mine. “I am approaching you in a comradely manner to retract the statement, as it would pain me to take legal action against an ANC veteran with distinguished struggle credentials,” Lamola said. He urged Dlamini-Zuma to withdraw the allegations publicly and apologise. “Nevertheless, I urge you, Comrade, to reconsider the allegations you have made. I trust that you will do the honourable thing: publicly retract the statement and offer an apology, in the spirit of unity, discipline, and respect that our movement demands. “Let us conduct our organisational discourse with the dignity, honesty and revolutionary discipline that our people expect of us. I have attached the audio in question for your reference and ease of review,” he said. INSIDE POLITICS