Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Ronald Lamola has welcomed a formal retraction by ANC veteran Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, of allegations linking him to illicit voice notes and vote-buying during internal party elections.

The controversy erupted earlier this month following Dlamini-Zuma’s appearance on the African Renaissance Podcast, hosted by former EFF MP Dr Mbuyiseni Ndlozi.

During the episode, the former Minister levelled explosive allegations against high-ranking ANC officials, claiming that illicit financial influence heavily dictated internal election outcomes.

Specifically, Dlamini-Zuma accused Lamola and ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula of participating in vote-buying during the ANC’s fifty-fourth National Conference in 2017. She alleged that a circulating audio recording directly implicated Lamola in these transactional activities.

Furthermore, she went on to accuse Mbalula of openly "dishing out money" at a clinic facility during the fifty-fifth National Conference in 2022 to secure his position and protect Cyril Ramaphosa’s presidency.

Following the broadcast, Lamola issued a strong legal demand to Dlamini-Zuma, instructing her to publicly retract the claims linking him to the 2017 vote-buying allegations.

Dlamini-Zuma issued a statement on social media to correct the record.

“Comrade Lamola has since advised me that the voice was not his. I withdraw the attribution on the basis of his clarification,” she stated.

Lamola welcomed the move, noting that Dlamini-Zuma’s statement vindicates what he has maintained from the outset.

“The voice note is not mine, and I was not involved in the conduct falsely attributed to me,” Lamola said.

Despite the personal retraction, Dlamini-Zuma maintained that the core of her message remains vital. She explained that the broader concern she raised regarding the influence of money in leadership contests is an important matter that must be addressed for the renewal and integrity of the ANC.

Lamola echoed these sentiments, agreeing that the influence of money in political campaigns is a “legitimate and important” matter for public discussion.

However, he drew a strict line on accountability, adding, “That discussion must, however, proceed on accurate facts and without falsely implicating individuals.”

Meanwhile, Mbalula has since announced that he is pursuing formal legal action against Dlamini-Zuma following the 2022 clinic distribution allegations.

Rejecting the claims entirely, Mbalula confirmed he will sue for defamation and will also refer the matter directly to the ANC Integrity Commission to formally clear his name.