{
  "id": 12143838,
  "title": "Mbalula, Dlamini-Zuma ordered to testify over vote-buying claims in defamation case",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/mbalula-dlamini-zuma-ordered-to-testify-over-vote-buying-claims-in",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T11:50:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/mbalula-dlamini-zuma-vote-buying-defamation-case/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Gauteng High Court in Johannesburg has ordered ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula and former Cabinet minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to give oral evidence in their defamation case. Mbalula is suing Dlamini-Zuma after she accused him of giving cash to delegates to secure votes for his election as the ANC’s secretary-general in 2022. Dlamini-Zuma declined to apologize for or retract the allegations in an interview on the African Renaissance Podcast. The court ruled that Mbalula and Dlamini-Zuma must testify in person and face cross-examination to resolve the factual dispute at the center of the case. Themba Sibiya, an unemployed delegate who has previously filed an affidavit claiming to have benefited from the alleged vote-buying scheme, will also provide viva voce evidence. Dlamini-Zuma welcomed the court's decision, stating that oral evidence is a better avenue for resolving the dispute, and reiterated her commitment to cooperating with the court's processes.",
  "summary": "The matter was argued before the High Court on 15 September, with judgment initially reserved.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Dlamini-Zuma welcomes oral evidence order in Mbalula defamation case",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/dlamini-zuma-welcomes-oral-evidence-order-in-mbalula-defamation-case",
        "published": "2026-10-05T10:06:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Mail and Guardian",
        "title": "Dlamini-Zuma, Mbalula set to take stand over ANC vote-buying allegations",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/dlamini-zuma-mbalula-set-to-take-stand-over-anc-vote-buying",
        "published": "2026-10-05T12:46:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Dlamini-Zuma welcomes oral evidence in defamation case",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/dlamini-zuma-welcomes-oral-evidence-in-defamation-case",
        "published": "2026-10-05T12:47:17.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}