Mbalula’s ‘clumsy’ secret budget talks angered ANC leaders – report

ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula is reported to have upset senior party leaders after he set up a secret team to negotiate the budget with the DA.

Mbalula’s team was kept under wraps, with most of the ANC’s NEC members only becoming aware of it when it was brought up during a meeting last weekend.

ANC leaders angry with Mbalula and his team

The Sunday Times reports that ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe was “livid” and ANC chief whip Mdumiseni Ntuli accused Mbalula’s team of “undermining” his official negotiating team.

An ANC leader told the publication that they suspect Mbalula and his secret team of trying to become heroes during the tricky negotiations to get the budget passed.

Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni, former MP Nkenke Kekana, former Gauteng premier David Makhura and Transport Minister Barbara Creecy are reported to have been included in Mbalula’s team.

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The source added that Mbalula’s deputies were also “irritated” by the secretary-general’s actions.

“They undermined the task team… Mbalula did not even care to inform his deputy, Maropene [Ramokgopa], who was part of the official task team,” this source said.

“She was not happy and Nomvula [Mokonyane] was not happy. You must remember this is not the first time Mbalula has blindsided his deputies. It’s irritating to them.”

Part of the reason the ANC members were so upset about Mbalula’s actions is that the DA said it was given the impression that this secret team was representing the Presidency.

Mbalula defends his actions

The ANC secretary-general, however, defended his decision to form another negotiating team.

According to a source, Mbalula said side meetings were held with the DA while negotiating the formation of the GNU. He claimed to think those avenues were still open and should be used to help the ANC.

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Mbalula is also reported to have said his position of secretary-general of the party allows him to take such actions.

‘I think he meant no harm’

“It created problems for everyone, but I think he meant no harm,” said the source.

The source said that if Mbalula had told his ANC colleagues about his strategy, the different negotiating teams could at least have “compared notes”.

“It just looked clumsy because it portrayed the ANC as a party that is not organised and the DA guys were saying we really confused them with all these negotiating structures.”

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