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3 clusters · 8 sources · 23 days · First seen · Last updated

ANC candidate list legal dispute and Mbalula health update

Overview

The African National Congress (ANC) faced an internal and legal crisis following its failure to submit complete candidate lists for several municipal areas in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Free State. This administrative error affected 181 candidates and threatened the party’s presence on the ballot in regions such as Mangaung and Port St Johns.

President Cyril Ramaphosa initially intervened during a National Working Committee meeting, warning party leaders against using the crisis to target Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula.

The situation concluded with a victory in the Constitutional Court, where Justice Rammaka Mathopo directed the Electoral Commission of South Africa to include the affected nominations on the ballot, finding the party’s explanation for the submission delay to be adequate.

Following the announcement of this ruling at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg, Mbalula collapsed during a media briefing. After describing the legal battle as difficult, he told journalists, ‘I’m not feeling well,’ before slumping. He was assisted by bodyguards and ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu while receiving medical attention.

In response to the incident, President Ramaphosa ordered Mbalula to take medical leave to recover from the stress of the legal dispute and his official duties. Ramaphosa stated that Mbalula will not return to his duties until both doctors and the President are satisfied with his health, while also praising Mbalula for leading the party through the legal challenges with distinction.

Entities

African National Congress · Cyril Ramaphosa · Fikile Mbalula · Electoral Commission of South Africa · Constitutional Court of South Africa

Timeline

  1. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Fikile Mbalula ordered to rest after health collapse

    ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa has ordered Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula to rest and recover after he collapsed during a media briefing following a Constitutional Court victory.

  2. [POLITICS] 4 sources
    Fikile Mbalula collapses after ANC court victory

    ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula collapsed during a media briefing after celebrating a Constitutional Court victory that allows 181 party candidates to contest the November 4 local elections.

  3. [POLITICS] 2 sources
    Cyril Ramaphosa warns ANC leaders against targeting Mbalula

    President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned ANC leaders against targeting Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula amid a crisis involving incomplete municipal candidate lists in several South African provinces.

Sources

bona.co.za · capetownetc.com · celebgossip.co.za · gagasiworld.co.za · insidepolitic.co.za · sundayworld.co.za · thesouthafrican.com · yfm.co.za

This summary has been updated 1 time: see revision history