Cape Town – ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that Police Minister Senzo Mchunu, who is currently on special leave, will not step aside from his duties within the ANC.
Speaking at the ANC National Working Committee (NWC) meeting in Cape Town on Sunday, Mbalula said that the ANC’s step-aside rule applies only to members who are criminally charged, which is not the case with Mchunu.
“There’s no such thing as selective application of the step-aside rule. [The] step-aside [rule] deals with everyone. Once you appear in court, the step-aside [rule] will apply. You are arrested, the step aside rule will apply. Here in the ANC, when last did you see people supporting each other… going to court with ANC T-shirts? It doesn’t apply anymore. You get arrested, you stand on your own…,” Mbalula said.
He expressed support for the president’s decision to allow due process, including an independent judicial panel to assess the matter.
[WATCH] There is no selective application of the ‘step-aside’ rule in the ANC. #ANCNWCinWC pic.twitter.com/qKjR8C6AFD
— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) July 20, 2025
“Those who vulgarise things shamelessly will say that no, the step-aside rule doesn’t apply to [certain people]. [The] President put Senzo aside with immediate effect. Argue the question of how that has happened but he is aside. We’ve got an acting minister who is chairing the meeting inside, and I have explained to you and I am repeating it again that Senzo will not step aside in relation to the ANC.
“He is an elected member and he’s got an opportunity now in terms of the Audi Alteram Partem principle [to also state as his side of the story.] Now, once we listen to that, it is also evaluated in terms of fact by a competent independent judge and a panel judicial commission that the president has appointed. Then we can pass judgment. Let’s allow the process to follow.”
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu