The African National Congress (ANC) has defended secretary-general Fikile Mbalula against “misleading and speculative” media reports which claim he “prematurely announced the death of former deputy president David Mabuza.
Some media reports claimed that Mbalula could find himself “in trouble” for publicly posting about Mabuza’s passing before an official announcement from President Cyril Ramaphosa.
However, ANC national spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu said Mbalula’s post was a “compassionate” and personal reflection, not an official statement, and came at a time when the news was already widely reported in the media.
“The Secretary General’s earlier social media post was a humane and compassionate reflection during a moment of collective grief, when the nation was already widely informed by media platforms. To weaponise this moment of mourning with speculative accusations and anonymous sources is not journalism, it is political gossip in search of scandal where there is none,” Bhengu said.
“The suggestion that the Secretary General announced the passing of the late former Deputy President is far from the truth. It is misleading reporting by journalists who are bound by industry ethics to report objectively and factually,”.
Bhengu further accused some sections of the media of attempting “to sow division, distort facts, and exploit the solemn passing of former Deputy President David Mabuza for sensationalist gain”
“The ANC rejects with disdain any suggestion that the Secretary General acted outside the bounds of respect, unity or organisational integrity. We remain united in honouring the legacy of Comrade Mabuza and call on all responsible voices to act with dignity in this time of national sorrow”.
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