Ramaphosa breaks silence on ANC vote-buying claims: ‘Those are rumours’ - IOL

President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected allegations of vote-buying at ANC elective conferences, calling the claims rumours and saying the practice must be rooted out.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has rejected allegations of vote-buying at ANC elective conferences, describing them as rumours while insisting that the practice has no place in the governing party.

Ramaphosa was speaking in Tembisa, Ekurhuleni, during an ANC door-to-door campaign ahead of the November 4 Local Government Elections.

His comments follow allegations by ANC National Executive Committee member Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma that party secretary-general Fikile Mbalula used money to influence delegates at the ANC’s 2022 national conference, where he was elected to his position.

Dlamini-Zuma has also linked the alleged payments to Ramaphosa’s re-election as ANC president. She has maintained that money played a role in determining leadership outcomes at the conference.

Mbalula has denied the allegations and challenged Dlamini-Zuma to produce evidence that he handed money to delegates.

Speaking during a media briefing on Tuesday, he said he had dealt with the allegations in his court papers and maintained that he did not use money to secure his election.

“I did not have it and I did not use money. Even tomorrow, I can withdraw this thing if she can say she made a mistake. In my papers, I explain that I did not do this thing,” Mbalula said.

He has also taken Dlamini-Zuma to court, seeking a retraction of her claims. Dlamini-Zuma has opposed the legal action and maintained that the allegations concern broader concerns about money influencing ANC leadership contests.

Mbalula has argued that the ANC cannot allow money to determine the outcome of its conferences, warning that doing so would leave the party controlled by those with financial means.

Asked about the allegations, Ramaphosa said ANC delegates should be free to choose leaders based on who they believe would best serve the party and the public.

“Those are rumours that we hear. Now obviously we are as the ANC completely against the buying of votes. Our delegates are supposed to go to conference and vote for the candidates that they believe will advance the interests of the ANC and the interests of our people,” Ramaphosa said.

He said the practice should be eliminated as part of the ANC’s efforts to renew the organisation.

“So vote buying is something that is unacceptable within ANC structures and as we renew the African National Congress that is one of the areas that we say we must root out wherever it exists,” he said.

The allegations have placed renewed attention on the ANC’s internal leadership contests, with Dlamini-Zuma maintaining in court papers that the dispute is about whether delegates were paid and whether Mbalula was involved. Mbalula has rejected the allegations.

The dispute comes as the ANC campaigns for the November 4 local government elections and attempts to rebuild support after losing its national majority in the 2024 elections.

Ramaphosa also rejected suggestions that the ANC was losing its political foothold, arguing that the party remained deeply rooted across the country.

He pointed to the ANC’s strong structures and support base, dismissing suggestions that the party was on its way out.

“It has deep support. It has got structures that work that are well rooted in our people. Those who wish that the ANC could die, they have what I would call a pipe dream,” he said.

The ANC is continuing its campaign ahead of the November 4 elections, with Ramaphosa and other senior party leaders taking part in voter mobilisation activities.