Mbalula: Mchunu will not step aside from ANC duties
Mbalula addressed the media yesterday on the sidelines of the ANC National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Cape Town, where the NWC reviewed ANC structures in the Western Cape.
Despite being placed on special leave, Mchunu attended the meeting. Mbalula stated that the ANC's step-aside rule only applies to individuals who face criminal charges.
'The President has put Senzo aside with immediate effect. You can question how that has happened, but he is aside. We have an acting minister chairing the meeting inside. I repeat, Senzo will not step aside in relation to the ANC. He is an elected member, and he has the right to state his side of the story under the Audi Alteram Partem principle,' Mbalula explained.
An independent judge and a judicial commission appointed by the president will evaluate the matter, Mbalula added.
'Once we listen to that and assess the facts, we can pass judgment. Let's allow the process to follow,' he said.
Mbalula dismissed concerns about the Constitutional Court challenge launched by the MK Party against President Cyril Ramaphosa's decision to place Mchunu on special leave.
He stressed that Ramaphosa acted correctly in handling the allegations of political interference levelled against Mchunu by KwaZulu-Natal Police Commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi.
'What the president has done to process these allegations is the right thing to do in a constitutional democracy. We, as the ANC, support that decision. The concerns raised by the General are receiving full attention,' Mbalula said.
Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1.
Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The South African
30 minutes ago
- The South African
IEC declines to register Malema foe's Mandela for President party
The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) confirmed that Mandela Jacob Boy Mamabolo's attempt to register a political party was unsuccessful. The controversial former African National Congress (ANC) Member of Parliament (MP) attempted to launch the party, Mandela for President. Several reasons, including non-compliance, were cited as causes for the IEC's rejection. The IEC said the party failed to meet the required threshold of registered voter signatures for registration. It also suggested that the name, Mandela for President, and the green and black colours could mislead voters into believing the party is associated with former President Nelson Mandela. In addition, the commission also shared that he claimed his name is Mandela Jacob Boy Mamabolo. However, registration records only list him as Jacob Boy Mamabolo. Inconsistencies between submitted documents and official records were also listed. The news has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with many users supporting the IEC's decision. Some argued that South Africa already has too many political parties. Meanwhile, others questioned Mamabolo's suitability to lead, citing his controversial political history. Often described as a rival to Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, Mamabolo has frequently made headlines for the wrong reasons. Earlier this year, he was suspended from the ANC after attacking fellow party member Onnica Moloi on social media, accusing her of using unethical tactics to advance her career. Meanwhile, on 15 July, Mamabolo was legally prohibited from posting or sharing any images or videos of Polokwane mayor John Mpe and his family online. In a separate incident during the 2020 State of the Nation Address, Mamabolo publicly accused Malema of assaulting his spouse. He later retracted the claim on social media, issuing an apology and admitting it was inappropriate to raise the matter in public. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news
IOL News
30 minutes ago
- IOL News
Liberation Movements Summit confronts foreign interference, arms trade concerns
Liberation Movements Summit 2025 class photo. Image: X/ANC ANC hosted the inaugural Liberation Movements Summit in Kempton Park at the weekend, bringing together leaders from historic liberation parties across the continent, amid challenges facing Africa. The three-day summit united representatives from Mozambique's FRELIMO, Namibia's SWAPO, Angola's MPLA, Zimbabwe's ZANU-PF, and Tanzania's CCM. This was under the theme 'Defending Liberation Gains, Advancing Integrated Socio-Economic Development, Strengthening Solidarity for a Better Africa.' Delegates adopted a joint declaration affirming their commitment to unity, justice, peace, and development across the continent. In his keynote address on Sunday, ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula addressed concerns regarding threats to Africa's sovereignty, highlighting issues such as foreign interference, neocolonialism, and digital imperialism. 'We reject all forms of foreign interference, neocolonialism and digital imperialism, and assert our collective right to shape our development on African terms,' he said. He emphasised that African development must be shaped on African terms. 'We meet at a time of global turmoil—wars rage in Europe, the Middle East, and parts of our continent,' Mbalula said. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ As the oldest liberation movement in Africa, the ANC carried not only the legacy of struggle but a responsibility to work for peace wherever conflict endangers human dignity. Mbalula reiterated the ANC's support for the African Union's Silencing the Guns initiative, which aims to address conflicts in Africa through dialogue, disarmament, and inclusive peace-building. Extending this vision globally, he called for a negotiated end to the Russia-Ukraine war and announced a firm stance on arms exports. In line with South Africa's constitutional values, no South African arms manufacturer—public or private—will be allowed to export weapons to the Ukraine conflict zone. This is not an anti-European position. It is a pro-peace position, he stated. His remarks follow growing concerns over Rheinmetall Denel Munition (RDM), the South African arm of Germany's Rheinmetall. RDM recently secured its largest-ever contract—worth hundreds of millions of euros—to supply 155mm artillery rounds to an unnamed NATO country. Deliveries begin this year and run through 2027. Critics allege that these weapons could reach conflict zones such as Ukraine and Israel, bypassing South Africa's export restrictions. Activists have protested outside RDM's Boksburg plant, and MPs have raised alarms over potential violations of end-user agreements. In April, MPs called on the National Conventional Arms Control Committee (NCACC) to strengthen oversight and enforce accountability. Parliamentarians warned that arms sales contradict South Africa's principled stances on Palestine and Russia, and could undermine efforts at the International Court of Justice. The summit received strong messages of solidarity from Cuba, Algeria's National Liberation Front, the Polisario Front of Western Sahara, Palestine's Al Fatah, Nicaragua's Sandinista Front, and the Communist Parties of China and Russia. Adding to the tension, concerns have been raised over Ukraine's expanding diplomatic footprint in Africa. In 2024, Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger accused Kyiv of supporting destabilising groups in the Sahel, a charge that continues to fuel debate over foreign influence on the continent. As the summit concluded, liberation movements called for renewed unity and vigilance in safeguarding Africa's sovereignty, peace, and political integrity. Meanwhile, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, encouraged the liberation movements to be united and not be divided or destroyed by colonial powers. 'We must not allow ourselves to lose power,' he said. ANC first deputy secretary-general Nomvula Mokonyane delivered a blistering political broadside against Western powers, accusing them of a longstanding agenda to brand African liberation movements as terrorist organisations — an effort she said has failed dismally. 'They tried to brand us as terrorists, but failed,' Mokonyane declared. We were not terrorists — we were the vanguard of justice, fighting to dismantle the last bastions of colonialism on this planet, said Mokonyane. IOL Politics
TimesLIVE
2 hours ago
- TimesLIVE
Madlanga commission to cost taxpayers R147.9m over six months
'The estimated budget for the commission over six months is R147.9m.' On Monday the commission chairperson, acting deputy chief justice Mbuyiseli Madlanga, said work had started and they were treating the matter with urgency. The commission is set to begin in August, with the first interim report to be submitted to President Cyril Ramaphosa within the first three months. Madlanga said the inquiry would sit in Gauteng at a soon-to-be-announced venue, as the commission was still procuring premises. The commission comes after serious allegations made by KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Lt-Gen Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi that police minister Senzo Mchunu and deputy police commissioner for crime detection Lt-Gen Shadrack Sibiya worked in cahoots with criminals. Mchunu and Sibiya have since been placed on 'leave of absence'. Mkhwanazi alleged Mchunu and Sibiya were connected to criminals who run a drug syndicate from Gauteng and they were influenced by criminals to disband the political killings task team which was doing a good job. The commission will also probe: the Tshwane, Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni metropolitan police departments; the National Prosecuting Authority; the SAPS; and the judiciary.
