{
  "id": 5974146,
  "title": "‘It belongs to God’: Mbalula says the ANC will never die, as his livestock donation sparks controversy",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/it-belongs-to-god-mbalula-says-the-anc-will-never-die-as-his",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-06T12:12:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/politics/anc-fikile-mbalula-livestock-donation/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula declared at a cultural ceremony in Mpumalanga that the African National Congress can never die, crediting its immortality to divine protection by God and the ancestors. The event, attended by traditional leaders, showcased Mbalula's unwavering belief in the party's unbreakable nature. He asserted that the ANC, born inside a church and built by priests, was destined for success, undeterred by attempts to destroy it. Mbalula implored the audience to safeguard the ANC, emphasizing that any issues within the party stemmed from individual misconduct, not the organization itself. In response to the criticism, Mbalula urged supporters to cast their votes in the upcoming local government elections, emphasizing the necessity of actively requesting votes rather than passively receiving them. The ANC secretary-general expressed satisfaction that Mpumalanga remains a stronghold for the party, and he pledged to expand the ANC's support by donating a bull and two goats to the Bakoena Royal family on behalf of the ANC, with an additional five cows to follow. However, Mbalula's gift sparked controversy among social media users, notably Julius Malema of the EFF, who mocked the size of the bull, labeling it as a \"technical glitch.\"",
  "summary": "The ANC donated a young bull and goats to the Bakoena royal family.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Citizen",
        "title": "Mbalula under fire as ANC candidate list blunder sparks internal backlash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/06/mbalula-under-fire-as-anc-candidate-list-blunder-sparks-internal",
        "published": "2026-09-06T08:09:27.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}