JOHANNESBURG, Gauteng — A widening rift inside South Africa’s ruling African National Congress has spilled into the courtroom, as ANC vote-buying allegations sit at the centre of a high-profile defamation battle between Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and veteran National Executive Committee member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma.
The legal dispute traces back to a podcast interview in which Dlamini-Zuma accused Mbalula of distributing cash to delegates at the ANC’s 55th National Elective Conference held at Nasrec in 2022. According to her claims, the payments were intended to secure Mbalula’s own election as secretary-general while simultaneously shoring up support for the re-election of President Cyril Ramaphosa. Dlamini-Zuma went further, asserting that the use of financial leverage in ANC leadership contests is not a recent development and can be traced back to the 2017 “CR17” campaign that propelled Ramaphosa to the party presidency.
Mbalula has responded by taking the matter to court, a move that political analyst Thembisa Fakude describes as the secretary-general’s only viable option to shield himself from potential reputational damage.
“The only way that Mbalula can save himself from the potential embarrassment in this regard is to go to court,” Fakude said. “I don’t think there’s anything else he can do against Dlamini-Zuma in this regard.”
A Pattern of Internal Discord
The Mbalula-Dlamini-Zuma clash is far from an isolated incident. Fakude pointed to parallel legal action in the Eastern Cape, where ANC delegates hoping to participate in forthcoming local elections have also taken the secretary-general to court — a sign, she argued, of deepening fractures within the organisation.
Dlamini-Zuma herself is no stranger to breaking ranks. Fakude recalled that during the parliamentary impeachment proceedings against President Ramaphosa, Dlamini-Zuma was the sole ANC member who voted in favour of the motion, underscoring her reputation as a fiercely independent figure within the party.
“She is a woman of her own standing and power,” Fakude noted. “She is sticking to her guns this time around regarding Mbalula.”
Money in Politics: A Global Reality With Local Consequences
While the allegations have sent shockwaves through South African politics, Fakude was careful to contextualise the role of money in electoral contests as a worldwide phenomenon. She drew comparisons with the United States, where political candidates openly disclose funding received from lobby groups and corporate donors.
“Money plays an important role in election campaigns,” Fakude said. “Those with deep pockets are likely to occupy certain positions. It is something that is currently taking place in countries such as the United States and other countries around the world.”
The difference, she argued, is that South Africa lacks the transparency frameworks that exist in more established democracies. In the ANC’s case, monetary influence can take many forms — from sponsoring buses and accommodation for delegates to funding party regalia and meals at regional gatherings. Whether such practices cross the line into illegality remains an open question.
“I’m not quite sure whether there’s a law within the ANC constitution which bars people from buying votes specifically or influencing the pattern of voting within the party,” Fakude said.
Democratic Legitimacy Under Scrutiny
The allegations carry implications that extend well beyond internal party politics. Because South Africa’s proportional representation system means the ANC effectively selects the country’s president through its internal leadership processes, any suggestion that those processes have been compromised by money strikes at the heart of the nation’s democratic legitimacy.
“That system is now in question,” Fakude observed. “Many people are beginning to say that there should be a direct election of the president of the country, and it’s a discussion that’s ongoing and is likely to gain momentum.”
She added that the phenomenon is unlikely to be confined to the ANC alone, suggesting that other political organisations — including the EFF and the DA — are not immune to similar pressures, even if such practices have not yet surfaced publicly within their ranks.
The IEC Remains a Bulwark
Despite the turmoil within party structures, Fakude expressed confidence in South Africa’s Independent Electoral Commission, describing it as a “sound, firm, and respected” institution. While internal party manoeuvring may taint candidate selection, she said the IEC’s vote-counting processes remain beyond reproach.
“They count the votes. Whether those votes were bought or not, that’s another story,” Fakude said. “I do believe that it is a very respected and fit-for-purpose organisation.”
Looking Ahead to 2027
With the ANC’s next national elective conference expected in 2027, analysts are already bracing for an intensification of money-driven factional battles. Fakude predicted that financial influence will play a decisive role in determining who secures a seat in the party’s coveted “Top Seven” leadership positions.
“I foresee something similar happening come 2027,” she said. “You are certainly going to see money playing an important role in terms of ensuring who becomes part of the Top Seven of the ANC.”
If the current allegations are ultimately proven true, the consequences could be far-reaching. Fakude suggested that a definitive ruling against vote-buying within the party would chart an entirely new political trajectory for the ANC — one that could fundamentally reshape how future leadership contests are waged and won.
“It certainly will shape the future leadership battles of the ANC,” she concluded.
