DEFAMATION CASE: Mbalula, Dlamini Zuma legal teams clash in court over vote-buying claims
An ANC delegate who claims he witnessed Fikile Mbalula distributing money to delegates at the 2022 Nasrec conference has emerged at the centre of the legal battle between Fikile Mbalula and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma.
A fierce legal battle is unfolding in the Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg between ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma. The case centers around Mbalula's defamation lawsuit against Dlamini Zuma, who made claims about his involvement in vote-buying at the 2022 Nasrec conference. Dlamini Zuma alleges that Mbalula paid delegates to vote for him and re-elect President Cyril Ramaphosa, while also claiming that this practice of using money to influence ANC leadership contests has been a longstanding issue.
Mbalula's legal team, represented by advocate Smanga Setheni, is challenging Dlamini Zuma's allegations, arguing that they are baseless and should not be accepted in motion proceedings. Setheni also raises concerns over the timing of Sibiya's affidavit and the lack of reported police involvement.
Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
