The African National Congress (ANC) has issued a scathing response to the recent release of the “Mbalula Dossier” by AfriForum, dismissing the document as a “political motivated smear campaign” and a direct affront to South African sovereignty.
In a press statement released on March 25,2026, the governing party rejected the dossier with “contempt,” characterising it as an attempt by a “reactionary organisation” to isolate ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula and undermine the country's democratic progress.
A clash over sovereignty
The ANC's primary grievance centers on AfriForum's call for the United States to impose punitive measures against a South African leader under the Magnitsky Act. The party described this move as “reckless” and a sign that AfriForum has abandoned patriotism in favor of acting as a “proxy for external interests.”
“This is the conduct of an organisation that has abandoned any pretence of patriotism and has chosen instead to act as a proxy for external interests that are hostile to South Africa's transformation agenda,” the statement read.
Allegations of political distraction
The ANC links the timing of the dossier to the “People's March in defence of sovereignty” held on Human Rights Day. According to the party, the mobilisation of the masses “shook” AfriForum and its backers, leading to a “clumsy attempt” to shift the narrative and discredit the ANC leadership.
The statement further accused AfriForum of having a long-standing record as an “apartheid apologist organ,” claiming the group has consistently:
- Defended racist narratives.
- Undermined land reform and Broad-Based Black Economic Empowerment (B-BBEE).
- Resisted efforts to dismantle the structural legacy of colonialism.
- Exported “falsehoods” about South Africa to international platforms.
Reaffirming institutions
In its concluding remarks, the ANC reminded the public that South Africa is a constitutional democracy with functioning legal institutions. It asserted that matters of law enforcement should be handled within the domestic legal framework rather than being “outsourced to foreign governments.”
The party reaffirmed its “full confidence” in Secretary-General Mbalula and the current leadership, stating they remain focused on their “historic mission” of economic transformation and improving the material conditions of South Africans.