ANC Veteran Dlamini-Zuma Backs Down on Vote-Buying Claims Against Lamola
An influential member of South Africa's ruling African National Congress withdrew accusations against a senior government minister on Tuesday, saying she had...
An influential member of South Africa's ruling African National Congress withdrew accusations against a senior government minister on Tuesday, saying she had attributed a disputed voice recording to him without proper verification.
Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, a longtime ANC figure, had claimed during a podcast appearance that Ronald Lamola, the country's International Relations and Cooperation Minister, was implicated in financial misconduct during party leadership elections. She alleged a circulating audio file showed Lamola engaging in vote-buying ahead of the ANC's 2017 and 2022 national conferences.
But when Lamola directly denied involvement and objected to the claim, Dlamini-Zuma reversed course. "Comrade Lamola has since advised me that the voice was not his," she posted on social media. "I withdraw the attribution on the basis of his clarification."
Broader Concerns Remain Unretracted
The retreat stopped short of a full apology. Dlamini-Zuma maintained her underlying worry about how money influences ANC internal contests. She emphasized that the need to address financial pressure in party leadership races remained valid, regardless of whether Lamola specifically participated.
Her statement notably omitted mention of party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula, whom she had also named in connection with vote-buying. Mbalula has since moved to take legal action, seeking a court declaration that Dlamini-Zuma defamed him.
Escalating Party Tensions
Lamola had released an open letter days earlier demanding a public retraction, warning of potential court action if she refused. He characterized her podcast remarks as disappointing and urged her to air such disputes internally rather than in public forums.
The exchange reflects broader fault lines within the ANC as the party grapples with internal accountability and questions about the integrity of its leadership selection process. Dlamini-Zuma's initial claims touched a nerve in an organization where concerns about cash-driven politics have fueled divisions.
The incident underscores how quickly high-profile party figures can escalate conflicts—and how quickly they may retreat when faced with legal pressure. For ordinary South Africans watching ANC infighting, the sequence raises fresh questions about whether internal mechanisms exist to address alleged corruption at the party's highest levels.
