AfriForum says the report will be used to convince the US government not to punish South Africa and its residents for Mbalula’s actions, but rather to act against him personally. (Photo: Marthinus Koekemoer)
On Wednesday, AfriForum launched a comprehensive report, known as the Mbalula dossier, detailing various allegations of fraud, money laundering and corruption against Fikile Mbalula, secretary general of the ANC.
The report also describes how, according to AfriForum, Mbalula recklessly exposes South Africa to possible American punitive measures through, among other things, his provocative and insulting statements against Western countries, his support for expropriation without compensation and his liaison with the group Hamas.
AfriForum says the report will be used to convince the US government not to punish South Africa and its residents for Mbalula’s actions, but rather to take action against him personally in terms of the US’s Magnitsky Act. This enables individual sanctions against people allegedly involved in corruption and human rights violations.
The part of the dossier containing corruption allegations was presented by adv. Prepared by Gerrie Nel and his investigative team from AfriForum’s private prosecution unit. It will also be used to try to persuade the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prosecute Mbalula on charges of fraud, money laundering and corruption.
Fikile Mbalula (Photo: ANC/X)
Maroela Media reported earlier that Mbalula threatened urgent court action the night before the media conference to prevent AfriForum’s publication of the dossier.
In a lawyer’s letter, his legal representatives warn that the public disclosure could potentially be defamatory and damage his reputation, and say that he has not been charged or prosecuted in connection with the allegations. However, AfriForum continued the media conference, with Kallie Kriel stressing that they will not be intimidated.
Nel said during the media conference that he had just told adv. Andy Mothibi, the new national director of public prosecutions, wrote to request that the NPA reconsider the prosecution of Mbalula.
According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, AfriForum and the Solidarity Movement are doing everything possible to prevent American punitive measures against South Africa in the interests of the country’s residents. He says Mbalula’s insulting statements – including that Brent Bozell, America’s new ambassador to South Africa, is “drunk” and a “racist” – harm these efforts.
Kriel says Mbalula’s actions put the country’s future at stake.
According to him, Mbalula’s reckless and radical action is aimed at garnering support for the “struggling ANC” and for himself as the next ANC president, but it may result in international sanctions that will worsen unemployment and poverty.
“Mbalula does not care that his reckless actions harm ordinary people in the country, as he himself will continue to live in luxury and wear expensive designer clothes,” said Kriel.
According to Nel, the NPA is reluctant to prosecute Mbalula because of his political position, even though according to him there is a strong case regarding corruption, fraud and money laundering in relation to the payment for a holiday in Dubai that Mbalula and his family undertook in December 2016.
“No one should be immune from prosecution simply because they hold a senior position. AfriForum will therefore continue to consider private prosecution against Mbalula if the NPA decides not to prosecute him,” said Nel.
Nel also indicated that progress has been made with a possible private prosecution against Mbalula over public statements in which Jaco Pieterse, former headmaster of a school in Matatiele, was wrongly identified as a child rapist. The dossier in this case has already been received.