Mbalula whips out disputed state capture resolution

Pretrial hearings against five ANC bigwigs to go ahead

- By Setumo Stone

ANC boss Fikile Mbalula has cornered the high profile ANC members who challenged him to produce evidence of the disputed resolution of the national executive committe (NEC) to charge them when he submitted it to their legal team, effectively narrowing their chances of escaping the disciplinary hearing.

Mbalula's submission of the crucial NEC resolution, which was believed to be non existant, has put paid to rumours that he was on a frolic of his own and abusing his powers to purge those who do not agree with his politics and also opposed to his 2027 presidential campaign.

The big guns who are facing the music are former ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa, Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation David Mahlobo, former public enterprises minister Malusi Gigaba and National Assembly house chairperson Cedric Frolick and Obed Bapela, the deputy minister of public enterprises. Kodwa faces accusations that his conduct of "being beholden to Mr Jehan Mackay detracts from the character, values, and integrity of the ANC".

He was criminally charged by the NPA with fraud and corruption after the Zondo commission's findings that he received more than R1.6-million from Mackay when he was the national spokesperson of the ANC to influence tenders. The charges against Kodwa have since been withdrawn by the NPA.