ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has instructed his attorneys to initiate legal proceedings against Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma following public allegations that he engaged in vote-buying during the party’s 55th National Conference in December 2022. Mbalula formally confirmed the move at a media briefing on 7 August, demanding a full retraction of claims that he distributed money at the Nasrec conference venue to influence electoral outcomes.
Allegations Of Improper Conduct
The dispute stems from an appearance by Dlamini-Zuma on the African Renaissance Podcast on 4 August, where she alleged that cash was used to secure votes for President Cyril Ramaphosa and Mbalula. During the broadcast, the senior party veteran stated:
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.
Mbalula has rejected these assertions in their entirety, categorising them as baseless and defamatory. In a public response issued on 5 August, he stated:
I did not distribute money to delegates, at the facility referred to as the clinic or anywhere else, to procure my own election or the election of any other comrade.
Legal Implications And Party Tensions
Mbalula remains firm on his ultimatum, warning that he will escalate the matter to the high court if Dlamini-Zuma does not clarify her remarks.
If she fails to do so… we will go to court. It’s not a threat; that is what I am going to do,
Mbalula told reporters earlier this week.
The incident has further strained internal party relations, with Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola also demanding a retraction from Dlamini-Zuma regarding separate allegations of vote-buying linked to him. The ANC has faced recurring scrutiny over the role of money in its internal elective processes, a concern that has prompted calls for increased oversight from the party’s Integrity Commission. While Mbalula pursues the matter in his personal capacity, the ongoing public spat highlights deep-seated divisions within the organisation that have persisted since the 54th elective conference in 2017.
Legal representatives for both parties are expected to exchange correspondence in the coming days to determine whether a court process can be avoided.