ANC rejects AfriForum’s Mbalula dossier

Ernst van Zyl (head of public relations), Kallie Kriel (executive head: AfriForum) and Gerrie Nel. (Photo: Provided)

The ANC rejected AfriForum’s “Mbalula dossier” and labeled it a political attack.

In a statement, the ANC says it rejects the report “with the contempt it deserves” and describes it as a “politically driven smear campaign to isolate the secretary general”.

The ANC’s reaction follows after AfriForum launched the Mbalula dossier in which allegations of fraud, money laundering and corruption against Mbalula are detailed and which also claims that his statements and actions could expose South Africa to possible American sanctions.

AfriForum wants to use the report to convince the US government to instead consider individual sanctions against Mbalula in terms of the US Magnitsky Act, while the corruption part of the dossier by adv. Gerrie Nel’s private prosecution unit was formed to try to persuade the NPA to prosecute Mbalula. Mbalula meanwhile threatened court action to prevent the disclosure of the dossier, but AfriForum continued with the media conference and said they would not be intimidated, while Nel also indicated that private prosecution could be considered if the NPA did not act.

The ANC accuses AfriForum of trying to encourage foreign intervention against South Africa. According to the party, AfriForum’s call for the US to introduce punitive measures against a South African is “not only reckless, but an insult and direct attack on our sovereignty”.

The ANC further says that AfriForum acts as a pressure group which it says serves foreign interests and aims to undermine South Africa’s transformation agenda.

The ANC says it will not be intimidated by organizations that try to use foreign legislation such as the Magnitsky Act to settle local political disputes.

“No amount of noise from counter-revolutionary forces will distract us from this historic mission,” says the ANC in its statement.

The ANC says South Africa is a constitutional democracy with functioning institutions and that legal matters must be handled within South Africa’s own legal system and not by foreign governments.

The party reaffirmed its full confidence in its secretary general and the ANC leadership and said the organization remains focused on defending national sovereignty, economic transformation and improving the living conditions of South Africans.