Speaking after delivering a message of support on behalf of the ANC at the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) central executive committee meeting in Boksburg, Mbalula addressed the accusations directly, dismissing them as defamatory and unfounded. “So he decides to draw me into thuggery. I’m not going to do that.  

“I will deal with him through the courts, which is permissible in our country. He must then come to court and prove all those things he has talked about in a court of law, where a competent court of law will listen to both my side and his side about the allegations he is making about me. 

“He did not even say allegations; he stated them as facts. So where have they been tested?”

The remarks come in the wake of a public tirade by Mokgotsi, who alleged Mbalula has maintained ties with convicted taxi boss Vusi (Khekhe) Mathibela, who is serving time for the murder of businessman Wandile Bozwana. 

Mokgotsi further accused Mbalula of benefiting from a housing scandal in the Free State involving his wife.

“Do we have to label him (Mbalula)? Do we have to tell him you can’t be a member of the ANC? The same applies to his wife in the Free State. 

“She was involved in a housing scandal where Fikile is a direct beneficiary because he’s her husband. Do we have to say, no, you can’t be secretary-general because you are involved and your wife is now implicated?”

Mokgotsi also linked recent allegations against suspended police minister, Senzo Mchunu, as well as those against himself, to internal factional battles within the ANC ahead of its 2027 elective conference. He accused Mbalula of waging a political campaign under the guise of justice.

“He’s using the name Brown Mokgotsi to actually attack his target, and that target is Senzo Mchunu,” said Mokgotsi.

He further asserted the establishment of the Madlanga Commission and the parliamentary ad hoc committee, both probing political interference and criminality within the state’s justice system, are part of Mbalula’s alleged political plot against Mchunu.

‘Distraction from the real issue’

Mbalula maintained the controversy is a distraction from the real issue of Mokgotsi’s membership status in the ANC. Mokgotsi is allegedly no longer a member of the party.

Mokgotsi insists his membership only lapses at the end of October, but Mbalula said the party confirmed with the branch in North West that Mokgotsi’s ANC membership has expired. He said the ANC doesn’t even have to take any action against him because he is no longer their member.

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OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi dg