Deployment of Fikile Mbalula to Luthuli House

The African National Congress (ANC) has appointed Comrade Fikile Mbalula as the Head of Elections at the ANC Headquarters, Chief Albert Luthuli House with immediate effect.

Love him or hate him, Fikile Mbalula – former Minister of Police, and before that Sports – is one of the most charismatic and hard-working ministers the country has had… and his absence from the Cabinet, after President Cyril Ramaphosa’s reshuffle on Monday night, was noticeable.

Although the ANC only made the announcement of Mbalula’s appointment on Wednesday, Mbalula himself had already changed his Twitter title to ‘ANC Elections Chair’ before Ramaphosa’s speech was even over.

At the time, Mbalula tweeted: “I support the president reshuffle. Personally I think BHEKI Cele will do a fantastic job. YES I didn’t expect to b removed but I accept the change. Am now at Luthuli house peace!!!”

The ANC said in a statement today that it made the decision on Sunday during a special National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. It will be deploying “several Chairpersons of committees to Luthuli House” to execute the tasks and demands of the “current phase of the revolution”.

“Comrade Fikile Mbalula has served the movement for many years with utmost determination and commitment, having served as both the Secretary General and President of the ANC Youth League for almost a decade. He has also served as a member of the Cabinet for over a decade, recently serving as a Minister Police,” said the statement.

“The ANC is confident of Comrade Mbalula’s leadership at the helm of our elections machinery as we advance towards a landslide victory in the 2019 National Elections.”

On a personal level, I will miss @MbalulaFikile – He was always accessible, on the move and really tried hard: both at sport and the police. Razzmatazz…Good luck with the future plans! pic.twitter.com/td6u2ZZ5ee

— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) February 27, 2018