{
  "id": 12153521,
  "title": "Dlamini-Zuma welcomes oral evidence in defamation case",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/dlamini-zuma-welcomes-oral-evidence-in-defamation-case",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T12:47:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/dlamini-zuma-welcomes-oral-evidence-in-defamation-case/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ANC NEC Member Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has welcomed the Johannesburg High Court's decision to hear oral evidence in the defamation case brought against her by ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. Acting Judge Henno Viljoen ordered that the dispute be tested through oral evidence from both parties and witnesses. The matter was heard on September 15th. Mbalula's legal representative, Advocate Smanga Sethene, argued that the claims made against him were false and defamatory, stating there was no evidence. However, Dlamini-Zuma's attorney, Advocate Muzi Sikhakhane, argued that evidence of vote-buying was presented through the affidavit of ANC Member Mandla Sibiya, who claimed he saw Mbalula distributing money and benefited from it himself. Dlamini-Zuma made the vote-buying allegations during a Renaissance podcast in August and stated she would cooperate with the court's processes.",
  "summary": "Dlamini-Zuma welcomes judgement to hear oral evidence in Mbalula's defamation matter.",
  "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": "The Citizen",
        "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",
        "published": "2026-10-05T11:50:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "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"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}