Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Stands by ANC 'Money Claims' as Mbalula Court Fight Begins

• ANC veteran Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma confirmed she will oppose ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula's court action against her
• The legal dispute centres on Dlamini-Zuma's claims that money influenced ANC leadership elections, including at Nasrec in 2022
• Dlamini-Zuma said she will not argue the merits of the case publicly but vowed to keep raising concerns about money in the ANC

SOUTH AFRICA — ANC veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has confirmed she will fight a court action brought against her by ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.

She also made it clear that she has no intention of retracting her allegations about the role of money in the party's internal elections.

Dlamini-Zuma refuses to retract statement

Mbalula served Dlamini-Zuma with court papers on 21 August, following comments she made during an appearance on the African Renaissance Podcast. Her legal team filed a notice of intention to oppose the action on 25 August.

Read also

Former Operation Dudula leader says Nhlanhla Lux was sent by the ANC to destabilise movement

In a statement issued on Thursday, Dlamini-Zuma said the matter would be properly addressed through the courts and that she would not be drawn into a public back-and-forth while proceedings were under way.

"Out of respect for the court, I will not argue the merits of the case through public statements as the matter will now be fully ventilated in court," she said.

How the legal dispute arose

The podcast interview that prompted Mbalula's action touched on two separate ANC national conferences. Dlamini-Zuma reflected on her failed bid for the party presidency at the 54th National Conference in 2017, where Cyril Ramaphosa defeated her, and questioned whether money had shaped the outcome.

She also directed allegations at Mbalula personally in relation to the 55th National Conference held at Nasrec in December 2022, where Ramaphosa was re-elected and Mbalula secured the position of secretary-general. Dlamini-Zuma alleged that money was distributed at the conference and specifically claimed Mbalula had handed out funds at a clinic on the premises.

Read also

Bongani Dlomo hit-and-run: SAPS opens docket as R320 million Gumede Trial adjourned

See post here:

Dlamini-Zuma vows to keep speaking out

Dlamini-Zuma signalled she intends to keep pressing the issue within the governing party. She argued that genuine organisational renewal within the ANC would require an honest reckoning with how financial influence operates during leadership contests, warning that when money outweighs political conviction, it erodes the party's character.

"I will continue to raise sharply my conviction that the ANC must deal with the use of money in the movement," she said.

Mbalula threatens to sue Dlamini-Zuma

Previously, Briefly News reported that Mbalula rejected the vote buying allegations outright , stating he had not paid delegates to secure votes for himself or any other leader. He described the claims as damaging to his reputation and instructed his lawyers to demand a retraction or supporting evidence. After Dlamini-Zuma declined to withdraw her remarks, he confirmed he would pursue the matter in court and through the ANC's Integrity Commission. Mbalula has maintained that his election was conducted via a secret ballot administered by the party's Electoral Commission.

Source: Briefly News