The African National Congress (ANC) has strongly criticized AfriForum, labeling the organization as racist and questioning the legitimacy of its announcement regarding the prosecution of ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. Mbalula faces a charge of crimen injuria for allegedly calling a school principal a child rapist. The ANC expressed concerns over AfriForum's role in announcing the prosecution, suggesting it may be "potentially corrupt" for a special interest group to be the first to convey a decision typically made by state institutions.
The controversy began when Mbalula made remarks about former Bergview College principal Jaco Pieterse in April last year. These remarks followed allegations that a seven-year-old girl had been raped at the school in Matatiele, Eastern Cape, in 2024. However, the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) declined to prosecute anyone over the alleged rape, citing a lack of evidence. The ANC emphasized that neither they nor Mbalula were informed of any decision to prosecute by the police or the NPA, making AfriForum's announcement unusual.
The ANC's national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu, stated that AfriForum's actions demonstrate a "blinding obsession" with Mbalula, bordering on harassment. The party also drew attention to the historical connotations of "ja baas," an Afrikaans phrase used to symbolize the subservient role imposed on Black people under apartheid. The ANC argued that AfriForum's actions reflect a longing for a bygone era, which they vowed to prevent from returning.
According to the ANC, Mbalula was merely delivering the party's official statement on gender-based violence and femicide, which did not name any suspect. They suggested that if anyone should be held accountable for the statement, it should be the ANC. The party also noted that independent prosecutors had previously considered the complaint against Mbalula and declined to prosecute, only for the matter to be revived following representations from AfriForum.
AfriForum's private prosecution unit, led by Adv Gerrie Nel, announced on Monday that Gauteng director of public prosecutions Andrew Chauke had agreed to prosecute Mbalula. This decision followed representations made to Chauke on August 13, arguing that the earlier decision not to prosecute was irrational. NPA spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed the decision last week. AfriForum also claimed that Pieterse had never been a suspect and that Mbalula had called him an animal.
Pieterse, backed by AfriForum's private prosecution unit, laid complaints against EFF leader Julius Malema and Eastern Cape education MEC Fundile Gade. Notably, the NPA decided in August to prosecute Malema on the same charge. The ANC stated that Mbalula would address the matter through the courts. This is not the first time AfriForum has pursued Mbalula; the organization has previously called for his prosecution over his family's R680,000 Dubai holiday in 2016.
The ANC's rebuke of AfriForum highlights the ongoing tensions between the two entities. The party's stance underscores its commitment to challenging what it perceives as attempts to revive apartheid-era power dynamics. As the prosecution of Mbalula moves forward, it remains to be seen how this will impact the broader political landscape in South Africa.
Key points
- The ANC has branded AfriForum a racist organization and questioned the legitimacy of its role in announcing the prosecution of Fikile Mbalula.
- Mbalula faces a charge of crimen injuria for allegedly calling a school principal a child rapist.
- The ANC vowed to prevent the return of a bygone era symbolized by the phrase "ja baas," which represents subservience to white authority.
