Lamola welcomes Dlamini-Zuma’s vote-buying claims retraction

International Relations and Cooperation Minister, Ronald Lamola, says African National Congress (ANC) veteran, Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s, withdrawal of remarks attributing a circulating voice note about the party’s internal elections to him vindicates his position. 

“Her statement vindicates what I have maintained from the outset: the voice note is not mine, and I was not involved in the conduct falsely attributed to me,” Lamola said. 

In a retraction posted on X on Tuesday, the ANC NEC member said Lamola had informed her that the voice note was not his. 

“I withdraw the attribution on the basis of his clarification,” Dlamini-Zuma said. 

Dlamini-Zuma made the allegations in early August during an interview on former politician, Mbuyiseni Ndlozi’s podcast, African Renaissance Podcast, accusing Lamola of engaging in vote-buying during the ANC’s 54th National Conference in 2017.

It was at that conference that President Cyril Ramaphosa was elected ANC president, narrowly defeating Dlamini-Zuma.

Lamola denied the allegations and demanded that Dlamini-Zuma retract the statement or face legal action. He insisted that anyone familiar with his voice and manner of speaking would be able to tell that the voice note is not his. 

“I categorically deny any involvement in vote-buying, whether through phone calls, voice notes, or any other medium, during that conference or at any other time,” Lamola said.

Dear Comrade @DlaminiZuma

Open Letter re alleged Lamola recording

I have noted with concern and disappointment the remarks you made recently on a podcast with Dr Ndlozi. You are a leader I have long held in high esteem throughout my years of activism in the African National… https://t.co/rg0FoBEEPg pic.twitter.com/loZD9bMiQL

— Ronald Lamola (@RonaldLamola) August 5, 2026

Dlamini-Zuma has also called for her concerns about the influence of money in the party’s leadership contests to be addressed, with Lamola joining her call for the allegations to be investigated.

“The influence of money in politics is a legitimate and important matter for public discussion. That discussion must, however, proceed on accurate facts and without falsely implicating individuals,” Lamola said. 

Meanwhile, ANC Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, is yet to receive a similar retraction after Dlamini-Zuma also accused him of participating in vote-buying, particularly during the ANC’s 55th National Conference. 

At that conference, Ramaphosa was re-elected as ANC president, while Mbalula was elected secretary-general. 

During the podcast, Dlamini-Zuma accused Mbalula of “dishing the money in the clinic”. 

Mbalula has since reportedly filed papers in the Gauteng High Court, arguing that Dlamini-Zuma’s statements were false and defamatory and had damaged his reputation. 

I welcome Dr Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s withdrawal of her attributing a voice note to me in relation to the ANC’s internal electoral processes.

Her statement vindicates what I have maintained from the outset: the voice note is not mine, and I was not involved in the conduct… https://t.co/pypDi8XvdX

— Ronald Lamola (@RonaldLamola) August 26, 2026