Fikile Mbalula Collapses Outside ConCourt After ANC Wins Battle to Reinstate 181 Candidates
- African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula addressed the media outside the Constitutional Court
- The ConCourt overturned an Electoral Court ruling that had blocked 181 ANC candidates from appearing on the election ballot
- After delivering an emotional speech, Mbalula complained about not feeling well while struggling to stay on his feet
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Byron Pillay, a Briefly News journalist, has dedicated a decade to reporting on the South African political landscape, crime, and social issues. He worked as a newspaper journalist for 10 years before transitioning to online.
GAUTENG — ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula collapsed during a media briefing outside the Constitutional Court in Johannesburg on 15 October, moments after the party secured a landmark legal victory restoring its candidate lists for the upcoming local government elections.
The Constitutional Court overturned a previous Electoral Court decision that had disqualified 181 ANC candidates from the 4 November ballot. Mbalula had been speaking to reporters about the ruling's significance when he became visibly distressed, citing "sleepless nights" in the lead-up to the judgment.
Mbalula overcome after emotional address
During the press engagement, Mbalula grew tearful while reflecting on the pressure surrounding the legal battle. He told reporters he was "not feeling well" before supporters and party officials stepped in to assist him.
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The scene, captured live by eNCA, showed a crowded press scrum of media personnel and ANC-affiliated attendees as Mbalula was helped away from the cameras.
ConCourt ruling reinstates ANC candidates
The court's decision represents a significant reversal for the ruling party, which had faced the prospect of contesting the elections without more than 180 of its nominated candidates on the ballot.
Mbalula credited party leadership, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, for choosing to pursue the matter through legal channels rather than conceding the Electoral Court's earlier ruling. The 4 November Local Government Elections will now proceed with the full ANC candidate list reinstated across the affected wards and municipalities.
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Source: Briefly News
