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Mbalula defamation case advances to oral evidence

Published

The Johannesburg High Court ordered that Fikile Mbalula's defamation case against Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma go to oral evidence. Mbalula is the ANC Secretary-General.

The Johannesburg High Court ordered that Fikile Mbalula's defamation case against Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma go to oral evidence. Mbalula is the ANC Secretary-General. Dlamini-Zuma, an ANC NEC member, made vote-buying claims against him on a podcast in August.

Mbalula said the order is not a finding that the claims are true. He said he has consistently denied them.

Key facts

Who
Fikile Mbalula (ANC Secretary-General); Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma (ANC NEC member); Henno Viljoen (Acting Judge); Smanga Sethene (Advocate representing Mbalula)
What
The High Court in Johannesburg has ordered Fikile Mbalula, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma and other relevant witnesses to give oral evidence in a defamation dispute over allegations that money was used to influence the outcome of the ANC's 2022 elective conference. Mbalula says the order does not mean the allegations against him are true and maintains he has consistently denied them.
When
5 October 2026
Where
Johannesburg
Status
Reported

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