Fikile Mbalula
Fikile Mbalula is secretary-general of the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa's governing party, a position he has held since being elected at the party's fifty-fifth National Conference in December 2022. He previously served as Minister of Transport and, earlier, Minister of Sport and Recreation in the national Cabinet. As secretary-general he is the ANC's chief administrator and spokesperson, overseeing party organisation, candidate nominations and electoral strategy, and he has been the public face of the ANC's campaign for the November 2026 local government elections. He led the party's legal battle before the Electoral Court and Constitutional Court over 181 candidate nominations rejected by the Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) due to a technical submission glitch, ultimately securing a ruling restoring the candidates to the ballot across six municipalities. Mbalula has been embroiled in a defamation dispute with ANC veteran Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, who publicly alleged vote-buying at the party's 2017 and 2022 national conferences; a court has ordered that the matter proceed to oral evidence, with Mbalula denying the allegations. He also faces a crimen injuria prosecution, brought via AfriForum's Private Prosecution Unit, for publicly branding a former Bergview College principal a rapist amid a child sexual abuse case in the Eastern Cape. Mbalula has also been linked in public commentary to the murder of Wandile Bozwana, allegations he has contested through the courts. He remains a prominent and frequently quoted figure in South African politics, regularly commenting on ANC strategy, coalition politics and the Government of National Unity.
Fikile Mbalula Updates
Daily Podcast – October 16, 2026
16th October 2026 Making headlines: Ramaphosa reinstates suspended police chief; ANC calls for mobilisation, unity following landmark ConCourt ruling; And,... →
ANC calls for mobilisation, unity following landmark ConCourt ruling in IEC candidate nominations case 
By: Thabi Shomolekae 16th October 2026 The ANC has launched a powerful call to action, urging all party structures, leagues, and alliance partners to close ranks for a “decisive victory”... →
ANC’s ConCourt outcome will not change their declining fortunes
15th October 2026 The DA respects the rule of law and respects the judgement of the Constitutional Court. The judgement raises serious concerns about the precedent... →
Daily Podcast – October 05, 2026
By: Halima Frost 5th October 2026 Making headlines: Court orders oral evidence over Dlamini-Zuma’s ANC vote-buying claims; DA launches relentless final campaign push following surge... →
Court orders oral evidence over Dlamini-Zuma’s ANC vote-buying claims
By: Thabi Shomolekae 5th October 2026 In a major legal development shaking the ANC, the High Court has directed that the defamation dispute between party veteran Dr Nkosazana... →
Parties sign Electoral Code of Conduct, commit to peaceful 2026 local elections
By: Thabi Shomolekae 23rd September 2026 Political parties competing in the upcoming local government elections have officially pledged their commitment to a peaceful, free, and fair... →
EFF brushes off Malema’s NPA charges, hits out at AfriForum for ‘weaponising’ justice system
By: Sashnee Moodley 23rd September 2026 The charge of crimen injuria brought against EFF leader Julius Malema does not “faze” the party, it said on Wednesday, as it hit back at AfriForum... →
Fikile Mbalula to also face the music for falsely accusing Bergview principal of rape
22nd September 2026 ANC secretary general Fikile Mbalula will join EFF leader Julius Malema in facing criminal prosecution for falsely accusing an innocent school... →
EFF heads to court over Parly’s 'irrational' reversal on removal of impeachment evidence leader
By: Thabi Shomolekae 9th September 2026 The EFF has filed an urgent application at the Western Cape High Court, seeking to review and set aside Parliament's decision to rescind the... →
Daily Podcast – September 08, 2026
8th September 2026 September 08, 2026. For Creamer Media in Johannesburg, this is Polity’s daily podcast. →
