The African Congress for Transformation (ACT) does not typically engage in addressing baseless remarks made by individuals who openly exhibit symptoms of cognitive impairment. Nevertheless, it is necessary to address the comments made by Fikile Mbalula, as failing to do so may result in his perspective being unquestionably accepted as factual.
On March 11, 2024, Fikile Mbalula claimed that the President-General of the African Congress for Transformation (ACT), who used to be the Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC), was responsible for the delays in the ANC’s Integrity Commission processing individuals implicated in misconduct by the Zondo Commission and other legislative bodies. These statements are both deceptive and defamatory.
However, it would be helpful to provide a concise account of the sequence of events to expose the falsehoods of Fikile Mbalula.
• In May 2021, Dr. Magashule voluntarily relinquishes his position as the Secretary-General of the ANC, in compliance with the step-aside regulations set forth by the ANC conference.TG of the ANC assumes the responsibilities of Secretary-General during this time.
• In June 2022, the State Capture Commission presents its final report on the investigation into allegations of state capture, corruption, and fraud in the public sector to President Ramaphosa. This signified the formal conclusion of the State Capture Commission.
• In December 2022, Fikile Mbalula is elected as the Secretary-General of the ANC during the 55th ANC National Elective Conference.
• In February 2023, Frank Chikane and several others are appointed as members of the Integrity Commission.
• In May 2023, Dr. Magashule resigns from the ANC, two years after his suspension. In the period preceding his expulsion, the Office of the Secretary-General was filled by TG of the ANC as the Acting SG and Fikile Mbalula as the SG.
• In March 2024, the ANC submits its controversial National and Provincial electoral candidates lists to the IEC.
Upon the conclusion of the Zondo Commission in June 2022, Dr. Magashule had been gone from his position as Secretary-General for approximately13 months. During this time, another leader had assumed the role of Secretary-General for the ANC.
When Fikile Mbalula became the Secretary-General in December 2022, Dr. Magashule had already vacated the position of SG for around 19 months. By the time Dr Magashule resigned from the ANC, he had not been in the Office of the Secretary-General for a period of 24 months, or 2 years. It is so insincere for Fikile Mbalula to attribute the failure of the Integrity Commission to carry out its duties to the President-General of ACT.
With him been at the helm, the ANC had a span of 24 months to efficiently handle and process all the issues brought before the Integrity Commission, without any interference from Dr. Magashule. From February 2023 to March 2024, the newly established Integrity Commission, under the leadership of Frank Chikane, had a total of 13 months to handle and process all the issues that were brought to its attention. During this period, Dr. Magashule was not present.
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Fikile Mbalula is engaging in political manoeuvring and exploiting the name of Dr. Magashule as a means to conceal the true intentions behind the step-aside regulation, the Zondo Commission, and the Integrity Commission. These instruments were weaponised and used as tools to single out and marginalise individuals who did not support Ramaphosa’s New Dawn initiative, which essentially aims to moderate and de-radicalise the ANC and align it with the interests of the White Monopoly Capital agenda.
If the purported new dawn was genuine, why do the ANC national and provincial lists contain numerous individuals who are accused and implicated in wrongdoing? Mbalula should be forthright with the South African public and acknowledge that the step-aside rule, integrity commission, and Zondo Commission were employed as a ruse to single out Dr. Magashule, President Jacob Zuma, and other progressive leaders within the ANC. Neither the ANC Integrity Commission nor the NEC are inclined to execute any of the recommendations made by the Zondo Commission, as they have already accomplished their goals of ousting Dr. Magashule and President Zuma.
We urge all South Africans to see the ANC of Ramaphosa for what it really is. An organisation that shelters individuals who are corrupt and have dubious and questionable characters. This is the same ANC of Ramaphosa that lied about building a million houses in Alexandra. This is the same ANC of Ramaphosa that lied about putting an end to loadshedding before December 2023. This is the same ANC of Ramaphosa that lied to the public by claiming to be taking action on the recommendations put out by the Zondo Commission. This is the same ANC of Ramaphosa that previously declared to the nation that the government does not create jobs.
However, a year later with the same mouth, the very same ANC, using the same rhetoric, addressed the nation to proclaim that the government will now generate millions of jobs. If they lied about the foregoing, why would they not be lying about the contents of their Election Manifesto. The ANC of Ramaphosa has become highly adept at deceiving the citizens of South Africa and has perfected the art of lying.
It is, therefore, imperative that we hold them accountable by voting against them in the elections on May 29, 2024. It is imperative to oust the ANC and its coalition partner, the DA, from their positions of authority in all provinces. ACT Party is prepared to take the initiative in driving the transformation in South Africa. ACT positions itself as the feasible alternative to uplift South Africans from this difficult situation. The ACT Party will enhance the dignity of our traditional leaders. The ACT Party will reinstate the honour and respect of our religious leaders. The ACT Party aims to reinstate the dignity of individuals who have been subjugated under the joke of the ANC of Ramaphosa and its coalition partner, the DA, for far too long. VOTE ACT!
ACT remains focused on the election campaign and will not be distracted by Fikile Mbalula’s purposeful attempt to manipulate the truth in order to conceal his own incompetence, using Dr. Magashule as a shield. We don’t need to remind the South Africans that Fikile Mbalula, failed to file a responding affidavit in the Ezulwini case, and thus subjected the ANC to ridicule, the party had its assets seized, and exposed his party to risk of liquidation.
It is unsurprising that he failed to review the Integrity Commission report and neglected to submit the responding affidavit due to his lack of discernment in distinguishing between matters of importance and matters requiring immediate attention. Fikile Mbalula has been deemed the most incompetent Secretary-General in the history of the ANC, as confirmed by the esteemed veteran Mavuso Msimango. Fikile Mbalula has faced allegations of not having successfully completed his matriculation studies, and he has yet to provide a rebuttal to these allegations. If he indeed possesses a valid matric certificate, we challenge him to publicly disclose it as a means of substantiating his credentials.
This is the same Fikile Mbalula who depends on his office staff to read and interpret the content of documents and newspapers for him every morning due to his deficiency in rational, cognitive, and intellectual capacities to independently examine and comprehend information. This is the same Fikile Mbalula who possesses limited ability to compose a paragraph in a memo and depends on his staff to generate reports on his behalf. This is the same Fikile Mbalula who possesses limited proficiency in operating a laptop, yet he holds the position of CEO of the governing party. This is the same Fikile Mbalula who struggles to articulate a meaningful phrase or string a cogent sentence without resorting to humour as a means of diverting the attention of journalists.
It is unsurprising that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the ANC has gagged him multiple times due to the potential threat he poses to harm the organisation with his tongue.
Issued by Mo’hau Khumalo, ACT Head of Media & Communications.
