By Charmaine Ndlela
ANC veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is standing by her claims about the influence of money in the party’s internal elections as she prepares to defend herself in court against ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.
Dlamini-Zuma’s legal representatives filed a notice of intention to oppose Mbalula’s defamation action on 25 August 2026, four days after he served her with court papers over remarks she made about money allegedly being used during the ANC’s internal electoral processes.
The legal dispute stems from comments Dlamini-Zuma made earlier this month during an interview on the African Renaissance Podcast, in which she reflected on her unsuccessful campaign for the ANC presidency at the party’s 54th National Conference in 2017 and discussed the role of money in subsequent leadership contests.
During the interview, Dlamini-Zuma made a specific allegation against Mbalula, saying: “Mbalula was dishing the money in the clinic.”
Mbalula has rejected the allegation, maintaining that he did not distribute money to delegates to secure his own election or that of other ANC leaders.
He previously described the allegations as damaging and said his lawyers had written to Dlamini-Zuma demanding that she withdraw the claims or substantiate them.
Dlamini-Zuma has now made clear that she intends to defend the substance of her remarks in court, while declining to debate the merits of the case publicly.
In a statement, she said the ANC’s organisational renewal process could not succeed without confronting the influence of money within the movement.
“The influence of money in ANC elective conferences is common cause and has been spoken about openly by senior leaders and structures of the movement,” she said.
Dlamini-Zuma warned that the growing role of financial considerations in leadership contests could undermine the ANC’s political character.
“When money becomes more powerful than political conviction, when delegates can be influenced by financial considerations rather than the political programme of the movement, and when leadership contests become commercialised, the very character of the ANC is placed at risk,” she said.
She said she would continue raising concerns about the use of money within the party, arguing that the issue extends beyond her legal dispute with Mbalula.
“I will continue to raise sharply my conviction that the ANC must deal with the use of money in the movement,” she said.
According to Dlamini-Zuma, Mbalula served her with court papers on 21 August over remarks she made during the podcast interview.
Four days later, her legal representatives formally filed a notice of intention to oppose the action.
“I stand by my statements and the substance of the argument raised,” she said.
However, Dlamini-Zuma said she would not use public statements to argue the merits of the dispute now that the matter was before the courts.
“Out of respect for the court, I will not argue the merits of the case through public statements as the matter will now be fully ventilated in court,” she said.
Dlamini-Zuma said her criticism was rooted in her long-standing commitment to the ANC rather than an attempt to undermine the organisation.
“I have devoted my life to the struggle and the African National Congress and remain committed to its unity and renewal,” she said.
She argued that confronting difficult issues was necessary if the governing party was to restore its organisational integrity.
“It is precisely because of this commitment that I believe we must speak honestly about the challenges facing our movement,” she said.
While the defamation case will now be determined through the courts, Dlamini-Zuma maintained that the broader political question surrounding money in ANC leadership contests could not be settled through litigation.
“The political and organisational question at the heart of this matter remains before the ANC and cannot be resolved through litigation,” she said.
She warned that the party could not afford to ignore the issue.
“Our movement must find the courage to confront this problem as it is killing the ANC,” she said.
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