MBALULA PRAISES REJECTION OF SHUTDOWN, DEFENDS CORRECTIONAL REFORMS AND PULE CABINET APPOINTMENT
JOHANNESBURG — Following a tense week of planned national disruptions, African National Congress (ANC) Secretary General Fikile Mbalula addressed the media to outline the party’s stance on immigration, recent high-profile Cabinet appointments, and upcoming legal battles ahead of the November 4 local government elections.
Mbalula praised ordinary South Africans for rejecting calls for a national shutdown on June 30, confirming that schools, clinics, public transport, and businesses operationalized smoothly across the country. However, the briefing quickly pivoted to a fierce defense of the party's governance record and sharp criticisms of political rivals.
Immigration Reform and the 'June 30' Response
Addressing the core anxieties behind recent anti-immigration protests, Mbalula firmly rejected accusations that the ANC-led government has ignored undocumented immigration. He presented two decades of deportation statistics to counter what he termed "political opportunism" from rival parties.
"The numbers do not lie," Mbalula stated, pointing to over 370,000 deportations executed between 2012 and 2016, alongside an upward trajectory from 39,000 removals in the 2023/24 financial year to 57,000 in 2025/26.
Mbalula argued that legal challenges from human rights groups and organizations like the Helen Suzman Foundation—specifically regarding the termination of the Zimbabwe Exemption Permit (ZEP)—have historically acted as the primary checks on government enforcement rather than a lack of political will.
To address the issue structurally, the ANC is promoting a new Continental Compact on Migration in Africa through the African Union. The framework seeks to establish an African refugee responsibility-allocation mechanism, a continental migration data platform, and accelerated trade initiatives to manage the continent's estimated 40.5 million migrants at their economic source. Domestically, a pending bill in Parliament aims to enforce a "first safe country" rule, requiring asylum seekers to claim protection at the first peaceful border they cross.
Defense of Dina Pule’s Cabinet Return
A major focal point of the briefing was the highly scrutinized reappointment of Dina Pule to the National Executive as the new Minister of Social Development. Pule's return comes more than a decade after she was dismissed from her post as Communications Minister in 2013 following adverse findings by the Public Protector and Parliament's Ethics Committee.
Mbalula acknowledged the public concern but pleaded for the principle of political redemption. He noted that Pule had served her sanctions, stepped aside voluntarily before it became formalized policy, and spent years working within grassroots structures to rebuild trust.
MilestoneRole / Status2013Dismissed from Cabinet; sanctioned by Parliament's Ethics Committee2022Elected back to the ANC National Executive Committee (NEC)2023Appointed Deputy Secretary-General of the ANC Women's League2024Returned to the National Assembly as an MP via the public ballot2026Appointed Minister of Social Development by President Ramaphosa
According to Mbalula, Pule has undergone internal ethics counseling and will proactively present herself to the ANC Integrity Committee for further guidance as part of the party’s broader renewal mandate.
Crossfire: Slapping the EFF and MK Party
The Secretary General did not spare opposition movements, singling out the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party for exploiting public frustrations.
The EFF: Mbalula recalled the January 2022 restaurant "inspections" led by Julius Malema, accusing the party of normalizing the profiling of foreign nationals. "You cannot light the match in 2022 and profess shock at the fire in 2026," he remarked.
The MK Party: The ANC labeled the political formation an "agent provocateur" on the immigration issue, condemning "demagogic utterances" coming from the Nkandla faction. Mbalula expressed deep disappointment that individuals who once sought refuge in Frontline States like Mozambique, Zambia, and Tanzania during the anti-apartheid struggle are now fueling xenophobic rhetoric.
Legal and Parliamentary Deadlines
Mbalula clarified the ANC’s position on two developing institutional matters:
1. Eastern Cape Leadership Dispute
Following a June 18 High Court ruling in Makhanda that dissolved the ANC's Provincial Task Team, the party has filed for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court of Appeal. The ANC maintains that filing this appeal automatically suspends the court order, ensuring organizational stability as the province prepares for local government elections.
2. Section 89 Parliamentary Process
Regarding the ongoing review of the independent panel's report on the President, the ANC stated it would maintain procedural neutrality, potentially participating only as an amicus curiae (friend of the court) to protect constitutional sequencing. The party noted that the committee’s draft Terms of Reference remain open for submissions until Friday, July 10, but suggested that Parliament should logically postpone definitive action until a key court case concludes this coming September.
Sports and Global Politics
The briefing concluded on a dual note regarding Bafana Bafana’s historic progression into the last 32 of the FIFA World Cup. While celebrating the squad's resilience, Mbalula voiced strong ethical objections to the tournament's host nation, citing recent military interventions in the Gulf and ongoing regional conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon. He also condemned reports of racial profiling against a Somali international match official, calling out global football governing bodies for remaining silent.
With candidate interviews actively underway across all municipalities, Mbalula asserted that the ANC is unified and disciplined as the countdown to the November 4 elections begins.
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