The content on this page is not written by Polity.org.za, but is supplied by third parties. This content does not constitute news reporting by Polity.org.za.

The civil rights organisation AfriForum released a comprehensive report today at a media conference detailing various allegations of fraud, money laundering and corruption against Fikile Mbalula, the Secretary-General of the ANC. The report, titled the Mbalula Dossier, also details how Mbalula is recklessly exposing South Africa to US punitive measures through, among other things, his defiant and insulting statements against Western countries; lobbying for the disregard of property rights through expropriation without compensation; and liaison with Hamas.

AfriForum will use the report as a basis to try to convince the US not to punish South Africa and the country’s people for Mbalula’s reckless actions but rather to take action against Mbalula in accordance with the US Magnitsky Act. This Act allows for individual sanctions against individuals who commit alleged corruption and human rights violations. 

The section of the Mbalula Dossier detailing allegations of corruption against Mbalula was prepared by Advocate Gerrie Nel and his investigation team at AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit. It will also serve as a basis for AfriForum’s efforts to convince the South African National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to prosecute Mbalula on charges of fraud, money laundering and corruption. During the media conference, Nel announced that he had just written to advocate Andy Mothibi, the newly appointed National Director of Public Prosecutions, to request on behalf of AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit 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 avert American punitive measures against South Africa in the interest of the country’s people. Kriel points out that Mbalula’s insulting statements – such as that Brent Bozell, America’s newly appointed ambassador to South Africa, is “drunk” and a “racist” – are seriously hindering AfriForum’s efforts to help normalise relations with the US. 

Kriel argues that Mbalula’s reckless and radical actions, which are simply aimed at trying to garner support for the struggling ANC and himself as the next ANC President, are gambling with the future of the country and its people. According to Kriel, Mbalula’s attempts to promote his own and the ANC’s interests for the sake of short-term political goals will fail. However, it will unfortunately succeed in bringing about international punitive measures on the country, which will lead to growing unemployment and poverty. “Mbalula does not care that his reckless actions harm ordinary people in the country, as he himself will selfishly continue to live in luxury and wear expensive designer clothes,” Kriel adds.

According to Nel, the NPA has been hesitant to prosecute Mbalula due to his political position, even though there is a strong prima facie case that corruption, fraud and money laundering were committed with regard to the payment for a Dubai holiday that he and his family took in December 2016.

“No one should be immune from prosecution simply because they hold a senior position. Therefore, AfriForum will continue to consider private prosecution against Mbalula should the NPA decide not to prosecute him,” Nel added.

Nel also indicated that progress has since been made to prosecute Mbalula privately on a charge of crimen injuria for the public statements he made in which Jaco Pieterse, former principal of a school in Matatiele, was wrongfully identified as a child rapist. The docket has already been obtained.

Issued by AfriForum