Mbalula: Panyaza Lesufi isn’t my friend, he’s a comrade.

ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that he called Gauteng chairperson Panyaza Lesufi to Luthuli House, the party’s Johannesburg headquarters, on Monday, 7 October, regarding his comments against the Government of National Unity.

Mbalula said this as there is reportedly tension between the ANC nationally and in Gauteng over the GNU and working with the Democratic Alliance (DA) at a municipal level.

MBALULA CONFIRMS HE SUMMONED PANYAZA LESUFI TO LUTHULI HOUSE

On Tuesday, 8 October, the ANC held a media briefing on the outcome of the national working committee’s (NWC) meeting.

Mbalula confirmed that he summoned Lesufi to Luthuli House saying that engaging leaders is part of the organisational culture that also helps unite the organisation.

Further, he clarified that even though he has a good relationship with Panyaza but they are not friends.

“Whenever I engage with him as the secretary-general he respects the office of the SG and I respect him. We’ve got a good organisational comradely relationship. That relationship has not broken, even yesterday [Monday], there could never have been any tension between us,” he said.

ANC TO SUPPORT DA FOR CILLIERS BRINK TO RETURN AS TSHWANE MAYOR?

During the briefing, Mbalula confirmed that the party is yet to reach a conclusion on a mayoral candidate as it is still negotiating with other political parties in Tshwane.

The DA told the ANC that it wants Cilliers Brink who was ousted via a motion of no confidence on 26 September to return as mayor or else there will be no stability pact. The ANC and DA were negotiating about stabilising the metro municipalities across the country that are hung in the run up to the 2026 local government elections

The ANC tabled the motion against Brink which was supported by ActionSA and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF).

“The return of Cilliers Brink as the executive mayor in the City of Tshwane is a non-negotiable condition for these talks to resume. The ANC should take note of the widespread anger and backlash in the capital city against parties responsible for removing mayor Brink.

“It is very unfortunate that the substantial progress we have made has been undone by the obduracy of your Gauteng leadership under premier Panyaza Lesufi,” DA federal chairperson Helen Zille said in a letter she wrote to Mbalula and David Makhura.

Zille blamed Lesufi for Brink’s ousting and in response, Lesufi said the ANC will never be a branch of the DA.

“The decision to not incorporate the DA in the Gauteng Government of Provincial Unity was also taken by the National Leadership of the ANC, the sooner you accept this reality the sooner the healing process will begin. The BELA Bill (Act ) was approved by the ANC NEC subcommittee on Education and Health and fully voted by all MPs of the ANC in parliament not Gauteng. Insult us as you wish. Call us names like roque as you wish, reality is the ANC will never be a branch of the DA,” Lesufi posted on X.

Although Mbalula slammed the DA for its ultimatum, he confirmed that the ANC is also negotiating with the Blue Party.

City of Tshwane council will meet on Wednesday, 9 October to elect a mayor.