Mbalula accuses Yengeni of trying to destroy ANC in cryptic messages before Zuma's hearing

ANC member Tony Yengeni and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Masi Losi)

By Queenin Masuabi

31 Jul 2024

The ‘intimidating’ text messages ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula sent to party veteran Tony Yengeni ahead of Jacob Zuma’s disciplinary hearing had nothing to do with the case against the former president, the ANC’s National Disciplinary Committee found.

The uMkhonto Wesizwe (MK) party has raised alarm bells about possible intimidation by ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula towards former president Jacob Zuma’s representative in his disciplinary case, Tony Yengeni, adding that it showed how unfair the disciplinary process was.

However, Daily Maverick has information showing that Mbalula’s text message reads: “Who do you think you are? To destroy the ANC. Who are you, Tony?”

The National Disciplinary Committee (NDC) report, which found Zuma should be expelled, explains that Yengeni’s complaints about the disciplinary proceedings against Zuma included how Mbalula was attempting to intimidate him through text messages.

anc ndc mbalula yengeni Jacob Zuma’s disciplinary hearing representative Tony Yengeni (left) and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. (Photo: Gallo Images / Sowetan / Masi Losi)

According to the report, Mbalula had sent the message to him “because comrade Yengeni had an old history of undermining the ANC publicly and had nothing to do with the disciplinary hearing or the fact of comrade Yengeni appearing on behalf of the charged member”.

Mbalula could also not understand why Yengeni had brought this matter to the disciplinary hearing.

Read more: Zuma’s ‘unfair’ disciplinary hearing a kangaroo court, says MK party

The ANC secretary-general was a witness in Zuma’s hearing and he spoke about how the former president failed to uphold the principles of the ANC despite having served the party for many years. Zuma joined the ANC Youth League in 1959.

The former president had started campaigning for the newly formed MK party in December 2023 while claiming he remained an ANC member.

The NDC report also sets out that Yengeni was not intimidated by Mbalula, despite his flagging these texts at the disciplinary hearing last week and the MK party’s attempts to continue to raise them as a sign that Zuma was being treated unfairly.

“Comrade Yengeni informed the NDC that he was not intimidated by comrade Mbalula. The NDC was emphatic that it would neither promote nor condone any form of intimidation and would refer to any threat to the officials of the ANC,” the NDC report reads.

Mbalula confirmed that he had sent the text message to Yengeni, but denied any intention to intimidate him or dissuade him from representing Zuma.

“Comrade Mbalula said he was aware of the provisions of the ANC Constitution which made it permissible for a charged member to be represented by a member in good standing,” according to the report.

Read more: Inside Jacob Zuma’s disciplinary hearing – ANC calls for expulsion of former President

Daily Maverick reported last week that Yengeni had questioned the integrity of the disciplinary committee, implying that it might be facing “external pressures”. He said Mbalula was complicit in intimidation, without elaborating.

In a letter dated 22 July 2024, sent to acting NDC chair Enver Surty, Yengeni claimed Zuma was still disgruntled that the meeting was to be held virtually and behind closed doors after he called for an in-person, public hearing.

“At this stage, [we] have not succeeded in persuading comrade Zuma to accept the virtual format as suitable for the NDC hearing. He has instead tasked me to convey his request that the hearing not only be held physically, but that it must be opened to the public,” Yengeni wrote.

ANC disciplinary hearings are usually held behind closed doors, irrespective of who appears before them. Zuma did not attend the hearing.

Will Zuma appeal?

News of Zuma’s expulsion was leaked on Sunday evening, and this was met with discontent from his organisation, the MK party. The former president has 21 days to appeal against the ruling.

The MK party was quick to draft a statement accusing the ANC of handling the disciplinary hearing of the former president unfairly. It went as far as likening the ANC NDC to a kangaroo court.

They said Zuma would consult his legal team to navigate their next steps. Yengeni told the SABC that there were solid grounds to appeal against the matter.

The MK party has, however, not answered Daily Maverick’s questions on why it would want its leader to remain a member of the ANC.

Zuma was expelled for contravening Rule 25.17.17.4 of the ANC constitution — “acting on behalf of or in collaboration with the political organisation or party other than an organisation or party in alliance with the ANC in a manner contrary to the aims, policies and objectives of the ANC”.

ANC NDC members belonging to the party’s National Executive Committee, Faith Muthambi and Nocawe Mafu, voted in favour of expelling Zuma, alongside other NDC members Robinson Ramaite, Vusi Pikoli and Kerensa Millard. DM

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Will Zuma appeal?