By Lesedi Sibiya-Diplomatic Insider
On Tuesday AfriForum had announced that it would release a dossier today which details allegations against ANC Secretary General, Fikile Mbalula, regarding fraud, money laundering and corruption. Fikile Mbalula has noted that he does not feel threatened by the dossier release.
“It speaks of alleged fraud, money laundering, corruption, and reckless actions. These are criminal definitions without specifics” said Mbalula on X. “I cannot answer to the media on these supposed transgressions that appear to be known only to AfriForum. I will not be intimidated by this political stunt and remain resolute in my position as Secretary-General of the ANC.” wrote Mbalula.
Mbalula also highlighted that he was approached by the lobby group in order to solicit his views or at the very least give an account for these allegations against him. He noted that he does not feel the need to answer to AfriForum or any other competing parties due to them not having any obligation or authority to launch an investigation against him.
Mbalula also sent a letter via his legal team to demand that AfriForum retract their statements and to cancel their scheduled media briefing.
“We caution AfriForum that any proposed media briefing premised on unfounded allegations amounts to defamation and the undermining of our client’s character” the letter read. CEO of AfriForum,Kallie Kriel, has stated that they will proceed with the media briefing despite the legal threats made by Mbalula’s legal team stating that they “will not be deterred and will continue”.
“We feel confident that it is in the public interest, that it is AfriForum’s job to make sure that we shine a light on things that we believe are not correct,” said Kriel in the press conference this morning.
“We are dealing with a holiday that Mr Mbalula took to Dubai, we know it, it’s not a secret, it was admitted. This holiday was between 28 December 2016 and 3 January 2017, He was then Minister of Sport,” said leading AfriForum private prosecuting unit Gerrie Nel at the Press conference. “We all know and it’s also pertained in the case docket that the cost of that holiday was R684,000 thereabouts” Nel continued.
Nel noted that payment was not made upon the time the trip was initially taken and that the travel agency dealing with Mbalula had reached out for payment in February 2017.
“On 9 October 2017, Eye-Witness News published a report about Mr Fikile’s holiday and said in the report that Sedgars paid for his holiday. On that same day that Eye-Witness News made the report, Mr Mbalula started paying back Sedgars through the company that they used on the same day.” Nel emphasised. Nel also noted that the money received was a loan to Mbalula and that he paid back said loan.