{
  "id": 12184065,
  "title": "Oral evidence order doesn’t mean allegations are true: Mbalula",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/oral-evidence-order-doesnt-mean-allegations-are-true-mbalula",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-05T15:38:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "SABC News",
    "slug": "sabc-news",
    "url": "https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/oral-evidence-order-doesnt-mean-allegations-are-true-mbalula/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has welcomed a High Court order in Johannesburg directing his defamation lawsuit against ANC NEC member Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to be decided through oral evidence. Dlamini-Zuma has also welcomed the Johannesburg High Court's decision to hear oral testimony in the defamation case brought by Mbalula. The acting judge has ordered both Mbalula, Dlamini-Zuma, and other witnesses to provide evidence regarding allegations that money was used to sway the outcome of the party’s 2022 elective conference. Mbalula insists the court's order does not imply the allegations against him are proven, as he maintains his consistent denials. The court has now instructed that the contested facts be examined through oral testimony and cross-examination.",
  "summary": "Mbalula, Dlamini-Zuma as well as other relevant witnesses have been ordered to give oral evidence.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}