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Mail & Guardian
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mail & Guardian
Mbalula: Mchunu to stay in parliament, ANC committee despite suspension
ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula. (X) ANC secretary general 'Comrade Senzo is a member of parliament, he belongs to parliament. He will attend parliament and will perform all the duties that are expected of him to perform as a member of parliament,' Mbalulat told a media briefing on Tuesday at the party's Luthuli House headquarters. His remarks came after President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended Mchunu on Sunday following corruption allegations against him by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Mbalula said the ANC national working committee meeting, which took place on Monday, discussed the Mchunu matter. 'He didn't attend and he said [it was] because of a leave of absence. I will explain to him that the leave of absence does not apply to the ANC and his politics,' Mbalula said. He added that the party supported Ramaphosa's decision to suspend Mchunu from his cabinet post while an investigation was under way. The president has appointed the acting deputy chief justice, Mbuyiseli Madlanga, to chair the inquiry, with advocates Sesi Baloyi and Sandile Khumalo assisting. Ramaphosa has appointed former MP and respected legal academic Firoz Cachalia as acting police minister while the inquiry proceeds. Earlier this month, Mkhwanazi told a briefing in Durban that Mchunu had interfered with sensitive investigations and protected business person Vusimuzi 'Cat' Matlala. He also alleged that Mchunu had links with Matlala's associate, Brown Mogotsi, and that these ties influenced policing decisions in the province. The KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner said they had uncovered a syndicate involving politicians, metro police, correctional services, prosecutors, members of the judiciary and business people working with a drug cartel. On Tuesday, Mbalula said the ANC welcomed the inquiry as a legal and institutional process to deal with the allegations. 'This is not a moment for complacency,' he said. 'If left unaddressed, these allegations threaten to erode public trust in institutions meant to uphold the law.' Mbalula dismissed reports that the ANC's integrity commission had made findings against Mchunu. 'There has been no interaction between Comrade Senzo and the integrity commission. When it happens, it will follow proper procedure,' he said. He warned against spreading misinformation online and accused some of using the matter for political gain. Mbalula said Ramaphosa had shown consistency in upholding the law. 'The fight against crime and corruption will not be waged through expediency or grandstanding, but through lawful and transparent processes.' He cited the Zondo state capture commission and the Nugent commission on the South African Revenue Service as examples of how inquiries can lead to reform. 'These commissions exposed wrongdoing and informed legislative and structural reforms,' said Mbalula. Critics have, however, pointed out that no successful prosecutions have resulted from the work of the Zondo commission. Mbalula said the ANC continues to support the president's use of commissions where systemic failure or political interference has paralysed existing institutions. He added that the party had postponed its NEC meeting, which had been scheduled for this coming weekend, because preparatory reports were incomplete. 'The NEC was initially meant to focus on the national budget impasse, but its agenda has since expanded to include discussions on the government of national unity, the alliance with the South African Communist Party [SACP], the state of the organisation, and preparations for the national general council,' he said. A new date has not been confirmed, but the meeting is expected to sit for four to five days. The NEC will also consider the SACP's announcement that it may contest the 2026 elections independently. He said alliance consultations are nearly complete and that the ANC hopes to convene the alliance political council before the NEC meets.
The Citizen
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Citizen
Mkhwanazi plays by his own rules
With a soldier's resolve, Mkhwanazi tackles corruption and crime head-on—even if it means stepping on ANC toes. The brains trust at Luthuli House must be wondering how on earth Lieutenant-General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi managed to get through the ANC's rigorous tests for both party loyalty and questionable ethics… both of those being pre-requisites for going far as a deployed cadre. They must look at the KZN police commissioner and see the rank badges on his uniform and then shake their heads in bafflement because he appears to be doing exactly the job he was appointed to do, rather than the real one of protecting the comrades. After all, for decades, the ANC has packed the ranks of the law enforcement sector – from cops on the ground to judicial officers in courtrooms – with those whose main objective is to pervert the course of justice. Some do it deliberately and some through gross incompetence, but the end result is the same: no-one from the upper ranks of the ANC has been put behind bars for corruption and theft. As someone who spent part of my life running around the bush with a machinegun, let me declare my bias: I am always more likely to trust a soldier than I am a politician. And, let's not forget that Mkhwanazi is, at heart, a soldier. He trained as an operator in the SA Police's elite Task Force, having first passed its tough selection process (second only to that of the army Recces, so it is said) and also qualified as a paratrooper. ALSO READ: Ramaphosa to address nation following allegations by Mkhwanazi It was no mistake that when he held his head-turning press conference last weekend, Mkhwanazi chose to wear his Taakie camouflage uniform and to surround himself with armed colleagues. It was theatrical, for sure, but the message was clear: you mess with me at your peril. There were some who saw worrying undertones of coup plotting and, it must be said that, on camera, he appeared little different from the African military strongmen who have overthrown governments on a regular basis since the wind of decolonisation started blowing across the continent in the '60s. However, there can be no denying that this country has been invaded by criminals and it is going to take a ruthless fightback to reclaim it. Mkhwanazi seems to be trying to do just that… the body count of his units in KZN shows that he believes fire has to be fought with fire and that the end justifies the means. Is he running a system of 'death squads' carrying out extra-judicial executions, or is he telling his cops to defend themselves? Most South Africans, if you ask them that question right now, would believe the latter explanation. As a soldier, he is calling the situation as he sees it – that politicians at the very highest level are involved in a massive criminal syndicate which, effectively, runs our country. ALSO READ: Charges laid against Mchunu as pressure mounts on Ramaphosa to act amid national security concerns His outspoken attitude, interestingly, mirrors that of another ex-soldier, Major-General Bantu Holomisa, who is currently the deputy minister of defence. Holomisa was expelled from the ANC after raising uncomfortable questions decades ago about corruption. He went on to set up his own party, the United Democratic Front, and is still a sworn enemy of graft. Mkhwanazi, as a military man, would know the importance of the propaganda component of any war… and he has got in the first shots. He would also know the importance of timing – and his enemy, the ANC hierarchy, is probably at its most vulnerable now. We wait with interest to see whether our former ruling party's bosses will embark on a counterattack.
The Herald
08-07-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
'I'm the ANC boss at Luthuli House': Mbalula defends premature announcement of Mabuza's death
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has defended his decision to announce the death of former deputy president David Mabuza before the government. Mabuza died in hospital on Thursday. He will be honoured with a state funeral. Mbalula was criticised for sharing the news on social media two hours before President Cyril Ramaphosa and the ANC released a statement on the matter. His actions are said to have irritated the ANC's top brass and the office of the president, the Sunday Times reported. In an interview with eNCA, Mbalula said he has the authority to speak on behalf of the ANC as the secretary-general and saw nothing wrong with his actions. 'I'm the boss of the ANC at Luthuli House,' he said. 'I communicate with families, and families communicate with me. That must be respected. The criticism is unfortunate and unfair. 'Veterans of the ANC pass away; I get informed, and I communicate with the leadership I lead.' He said he was informed about Mabuza's death by his family while he was visiting a doctor. 'I did not pick up the news of Mabuza from the street; I was informed by the family as the SG of the ANC. I gave instructions to the head office ... not to announce the death but to express condolences through my platform. Then we released a statement.' Mbalula criticised journalists who questioned his actions. 'Mabuza was the deputy president of the ANC. As the SG, I have a cordial, good and strong bond and relationship with my president. Why do people want to draw a wedge over a non-issue? I'm the SG, not an ordinary member of the ANC or the NEC. I convey messages on behalf of the ANC. 'Let people attack me about many other things but let them not deface what I was elected for and reduce me to a street man who doesn't have responsibility at Luthuli House. If I were to give attention to this, I would never function.' TimesLIVE
News24
30-06-2025
- Politics
- News24
‘Ultimatums do not run government': ANC to deliberate DA's ‘blackmail' at NWC meeting
The ANC's national officials at a recent meeting held at Luthuli House. @MYANC/X formerly Twitter
The Herald
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Herald
Minister Nkabane apologises to advocate Motau for including his name on list of disputed Seta panel
Higher education minister Nobuhle Nkabane has apologised to advocate Terry Motau for including his name on the disputed 'independent panel' that assisted her in the process that led to botched appointments to the boards of Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas). Nkabane on Tuesday said he had written to Motau about what she said was a 'misunderstanding' surrounding his involvement in the panel being questioned by parliament's portfolio committee on higher education. The apology by Nkabane is rumoured to have come on the advice of President Cyril Ramaphosa and Luthuli House on Thursday last week. Ramaphosa and senior ANC leaders are also said to have advised her to stop speaking to the media for fear of digging herself further into a hole. Nkabane last week revealed names of a panel which she said was independent and had recommended names of ANC cadres to lead the Seta boards. On that list, the name of Motau featured prominently as someone who was meant to have chaired the panel. Motau, however, took issue with his name being included in the list of panel members, saying the process of appointing him was never concluded and he never attended a meeting. Nkabane sent an apology to him on Monday. 'The purpose of this engagement was to seek a shared understanding of the matter and to express regret for the confusion caused. The minister conveyed her sincere apology to advocate Motau for any inconvenience, reputational discomfort or misunderstanding that may have arisen,' the department said on behalf of Nkabane. 'This outreach was undertaken in the spirit of transparency, mutual respect and professional courtesy. There was never any intent to misrepresent advocate Motau's role or to cause harm to his professional standing. The misunderstanding has now been constructively resolved and there is a mutual understanding between the p arties.' Nkabane said she had not been made fully aware that the process to formally appoint Motau as the chair of the panel required the presence of an attorney. I Motau said he only met Nkabane's adviser Asisipho Solani and a Luvo Makasi whose role in the department remains unclear. 'This gap in communication contributed to the oversight,' said the department. Nkabane has also undertaken to brief parliament's portfolio committee on higher education on the steps taken to clarify that Motau was not involved in the panel. Nkabane has been summoned to appear before the committee next month with her disputed panel. 'She remains accountable to parliament and is committed to ensuring full transparency and procedural compliance. 'The minister reaffirms her respect for advocate Motau and his distinguished service to the legal profession and public life. She remains committed to ensuring the appointment processes in the department are guided by integrity, transparency and due diligence.' TimesLIVE
