ANC National Executive Committee member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has filed a notice to oppose a defamation lawsuit brought by party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula. The legal battle follows podcast claims regarding vote-buying at the 2022 elective conference, even as Dlamini-Zuma retracted a separate accusation against International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola.
The Courtroom Clash and Mbalula’s Defamation Lawsuit
The legal standoff centers on statements Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma made during an appearance on the African Renaissance Podcast hosted by Mbuyiseni Ndlozi. During the interview, Dlamini-Zuma alleged that money played an improper role in leadership contests, specifically accusing African National Congress Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula of dishing out money at a clinic during the party’s 55th National Conference at Nasrec in December 2022. Dlamini-Zuma said it was no secret that Fikile Mbalula was bribing delegates with wads of cash in Nasrec to secure his election and President Cyril Ramaphosa’s re-election.
Mbalula strongly denied the allegations, characterizing them as false and damaging. Mbalula served Dlamini-Zuma with court papers demanding an apology and retraction on August 21. After Dlamini-Zuma failed to retract the claims, Mbalula subsequently filed a defamation lawsuit against Dlamini-Zuma in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg. Rather than backing down, Dlamini-Zuma’s legal representatives filed a notice of intention to oppose the action on August 25.
Dlamini-Zuma said she stood by her statements and the substance of the argument she had raised, but would not debate the merits of the case publicly now that it was before the courts. Out of respect for the court, she stated that she will not argue the merits of the case through public statements as the matter will now be fully ventilated in court.
Retracting Claims Against Lamola While Defending Broader Stance
While preparing for her court defense against Mbalula, Dlamini-Zuma addressed another part of the same podcast appearance where she had made damning allegations about ANC NEC member Ronald Lamola, who is the minister of international relations, accusing him and Mbalula of participating in vote-buying during the ANC’s 2017 and 2022 National Conferences. Dlamini-Zuma had alleged that a circulating audio recording directly implicated Lamola in these transactional activities.
Following the broadcast, Lamola wrote an open letter to Dlamini-Zuma expressing his concern and disappointment over her statements. Lamola wrote: You are a leader I have long held in high esteem throughout my years of activism in the African National Congress.
Lamola distanced himself entirely from the recording, stating: “Let me be unequivocal: I categorically deny any involvement in vote-buying, whether through phone calls, voicenotes, or any other medium, during that conference or at any other time. 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.”
Lamola requested that Dlamini-Zuma retract her statement and issue an apology, noting that he wished to avoid legal action because it would pain him to take legal action against an ANC veteran with distinguished struggle credentials, and because he believes the movement has internal mechanisms and a culture of comradely engagement that should be exhausted before legal routes are pursued.
On Tuesday afternoon, Dlamini-Zuma took to social media to officially withdraw her claims regarding Lamola. Dlamini-Zuma stated: During my participation in the African Renaissance Podcast, I attributed a voice note to comrade Ronald Lamola. Comrade Lamola has since advised me that the voice was not his. I withdraw the attribution on the basis of his clarification.
Lamola welcomed the withdrawal, stating that her statement vindicated what he had maintained. Dlamini-Zuma’s post did not mention any retraction to Mbalula. She emphasized that the broader concern she raised regarding the influence of money in leadership contests remains an important matter that must be addressed for the renewal and integrity of the African National Congress, and that the issue of money misuse must be addressed within the party, not just in court.
Broader Party Stakes and the Path Ahead
The underlying political dispute touches on past internal elections. In 2017, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma lost the ANC presidential election at the 54th National Conference to Cyril Ramaphosa by a narrow 179 votes. During her interview, Dlamini-Zuma reflected on that unsuccessful campaign, stating she had expected to win but questioned whether money had influenced the outcome. She subsequently raised similar concerns about the 55th National Conference in 2022 where Ramaphosa was re-elected.
Standing firm against the pending litigation from Mbalula, Dlamini-Zuma insists she stands by her utterances regarding the improper use of money. As the defamation lawsuit heads toward full proceedings, the ANC veteran maintains that the influence of money in ANC leadership contests is a threat to the party’s integrity.
- UEFA Champions League 2026-2027 League Phase Draw: Live Stream & Groups
- 2LT Trenton Fouche at the 2026 TAG Combatives Tournament
- Can You Kill a Rolex Mugger in Self-Defense? Legal Consequences Explained (newsy-today.com)
- Businessman Returns to Court to Unfreeze Funds for Legal Fees (world-today-news.com)
