JOHANNESBURG -The ANC is considering action against its stalwart former minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma over her allegations of vote-buying at the party's 54th and 55th national conferences.
Speaking on the sidelines of the ANC's NEC meeting in Boksburg on Friday, secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said the matter involving Dlamini-Zuma was being dealt with both “collectively and individually”.
Dlamini-Zuma made the remarks during her appearance on the latest episode of the African Renaissance Podcast, hosted by Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.
In it, she accused Mbalula and International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola of handing out money ahead of the ANC's 2017 and 2022 elective conferences.
Mbalula said he was pursuing the matter in his personal capacity and had instructed his lawyer to write to Dlamini-Zuma seeking clarity on the allegations.
He said he would take the matter to court if she failed to provide an explanation or evidence.
“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 said.
He dismissed the allegations as unsubstantiated and challenged Dlamini-Zuma to provide evidence.
“I didn't dish out money. I did not get here because I gave somebody money,” he said.
According to Mbalula the allegations have damaged his reputation and could only be resolved through legal action if Dlamini-Zuma could not substantiate them.
“No individual has the right to tarnish anybody's name. If she feels deeply and is convinced about it, then let's meet in court. She must produce evidence that I dished out money.”
Mbalula also indicated that the ANC would deal with the matter internally.
“Comrade Dlamini-Zuma is a member of the NEC. You wouldn't expect such erratic actions from her. You would expect that a person of her standing would have raised the matter formally within the organisation and allowed the Integrity Commission to deal with it,” he said.
The ANC's NEC is meeting in Boksburg to discuss and adopt the party's manifesto ahead of the 2026 Local Government Elections.