Secretary General of the African National Congress Fikile Mbalula
- ANC General Secretary Fikil Mbalula said there is a clear political campaign against Vice President Paul Machatel.
- According to Mbalula, the campaign will not succeed because the ANC “sees it for what it is”.
- News24 revealed that Mashatile led a life of apparent luxury and excess, using multimillion-rand homes owned by bidders and recipients of government contracts.
The ANC’s general secretary, Fikile Mbalula, defended his deputy, Paul Machatele, saying the “conspiracy” against Machatele would not succeed.
According to Mbalula, the party has viewed recent articles on Mshatel’s life in a serious light and will be asked to respond to them.
On Sunday, he addressed a press briefing on the results of the ANC National Executive Committee.
Asked about Mshatel, Mbalula said if there were any questions of integrity the party would intervene.
All we see are allegations and stories about the vice president.
“We view it as much as a political campaign aimed at eliminating an individual, and we are watching it with great interest,” he added.
“Never again will we reach a point where the political leaders of the ANC are exposed to these deceptions,” he added.
But Mbalula said ANC members must answer what they are accused of.
Read | Ramaphosa: There is no plot to overthrow Machatel
“When people say Mbalula owes someone 3 million rand, I have to answer. But I know the story, where it came from. I can tell you where it came from, but I will answer. I have to answer. The ANC cannot answer for something that do it.
“The ANC doesn’t know when I sit down at night with scammers and demand 3 million rand. The ANC doesn’t know that. I have to answer.”
He reiterated that those found guilty of “violations” must submit to the party’s Integrity Commission.
“This is what society wants. Then based on your answers, it should be your innocence.” [or not].
He added, “If it’s a political campaign, we’ll see it for what it is, because it won’t work. Even journalists, we know someone gives you a file, you write. We can’t blame the journalists.”
News24 revealed the nurseries He lived a life of luxury and appearance surplus, using multimillion-rand homes owned by bidders and recipients of government contracts on the exclusive Atlantic Seaboard in Cape Town to entertain a string of lovers and friends.
He was also thrust into the spotlight after members of the security guard were recently caught assaulting motorists.
Machattel defended his relationship with Edwin Soddy, who is embroiled in corruption allegations, and Ndavi Marida, a coal supplier to Eskom, saying he had known them both for years.
Last Sunday, City Press reported Mshatel said that those who plotted against him had set a deadline August to remove it.
He refused to name the conspirators behind the campaign to overthrow him, three months after he became vice president.
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Machatel said he was still trying to investigate the motives of those who tried to prevent him from being elected vice president and who then tried to remove him after he was appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
Ramaphosa confronted Mshatili over allegations of a conspiracy to remove him from office.
Ramaphosa, who has the power to appoint and dismiss his deputy, vehemently rejected Mshatel’s assertion, saying there was “no truth or substance” to Mshatel’s claims.