Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma Withdraws Explosive Lamola Voice Note Claim After Legal Threat — But No Apology!

Dlamini-Zuma Retracts Lamola Voice Note Claim

“I WITHDRAW!” Dlamini-Zuma Retracts Explosive Lamola Voice Note Claim After Legal Threat — But Refuses to Apologise!

By: Tebogo Mokwena  
  Focus: ANC Factionalism, Accountability & Legal Threats  
  Published: August 25, 2026

Executive Summary: ANC veteran and former minister Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has publicly retracted claims made on the African Renaissance Podcast, where she attributed a controversial voice note about political vote-buying to International Relations Minister Ronald Lamola. Facing direct legal threats from Lamola, she withdrew the attribution but notably declined to offer a full apology, doubling down on her broader concerns regarding money politics within the African National Congress.

The internal fault lines of the African National Congress (ANC) have once again spilled into the public domain. In a rare public climbdown, ANC veteran Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma was forced to retract explosive allegations directed at a sitting cabinet minister.

POLITICAL MISSTEP: Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma has withdrawn her attribution of a controversial voice note to Minister Ronald Lamola, though she maintains that the influence of money in ANC leadership contests remains a critical issue.

The controversy stems from Dlamini-Zuma’s recent appearance on the African Renaissance Podcast, where she boldly claimed that Minister Ronald Lamola had paid ANC delegates to vote for President Cyril Ramaphosa during the party's fiercely contested national conference. When a furious Lamola threatened legal action, Dlamini-Zuma utilized social media to issue a tactical retreat.

The Retraction Legal Threats Public Reaction Strategic Outlook

A Tactical Retreat on X

Faced with the prospect of a damaging defamation lawsuit from a fellow ANC cadre, Dlamini-Zuma formally withdrew the specific allegation while refusing to abandon her broader political narrative.

On August 25, 2026, Dlamini-Zuma took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify her statements regarding the voice note she cited on the podcast.

Withdrawing the Attribution "Comrade Lamola has since advised me that the voice was not his. I withdraw the attribution on the basis of his clarification," Dlamini-Zuma wrote. However, political analysts were quick to note the glaring absence of a direct apology to the Minister.

Doubling Down on "Money Politics" Rather than retreating entirely, she pivoted to reaffirm her core ideological argument. "The broader concern I raised regarding the influence of money in leadership contests remains an important matter that must be addressed for the renewal and integrity of the African National Congress," she added.

The ANC’s Litigation Battlefield

Lamola is not the only high-ranking ANC official prepared to drag Dlamini-Zuma into court over podcast allegations.

When Dlamini-Zuma initially alleged that Lamola bought votes to secure Ramaphosa’s victory at the party's national conference, Lamola rejected the claim outright. He demanded a full public apology and signaled his legal team was preparing to pursue remedies if she failed to comply.

Mbalula Joins the Fray Lamola is not alone in his outrage. Briefly News recently reported on escalating tensions between Dlamini-Zuma and ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula. Following similar allegations of vote-buying, Mbalula also threatened to sue the former minister, underscoring how quickly internal party grievances are now escalating into formal civil litigation.

The Public Court of Opinion

South Africans on social media delivered a split verdict on Dlamini-Zuma's retraction, debating issues of integrity, hypocrisy, and political maturity.

The retraction immediately ignited fierce debate online, with citizens questioning the motives of both Dlamini-Zuma and Lamola.

The Critics: "Not Good Enough" User @SamSoleZA blasted the veteran: "Not good enough. Even when you were collaborating with your ex-husband to prolong his influence and attempt to extend state capture, you knew what you were doing. Please don't insult our intelligence. The influence of money did not begin with Ramaphosa."

@malalaveve was equally blunt: "Lol, so you LIED about Lamola. No words can sugarcoat your statement."

@LedwabaRonald criticized her political judgment: "You see the danger of relying on unverified sources... Now you look like an amateur in politics. Young leaders are making you withdraw statements. Stop with these faction tendencies. You're an ANC veteran and carry yourself as such."

The Supporters: Praise and Suspicion Some applauded her accountability. @mekgatla wrote: "This is true leadership, and I applaud you, Dr Zuma, for demonstrating the humility and integrity to take responsibility."

Others directed their suspicion at Lamola. @Mesatshwa questioned: "It is disturbing that Lamola sought to distance himself from the voice note now when he never said anything the very first moment it surfaced. If he is genuine about his integrity, he should have dealt with it a long time ago."

LEADERS MANDATE STRATEGIC OUTLOOK

The Danger of Unverified Factionalism

Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma’s tactical retraction exposes a critical vulnerability within the ANC’s senior ranks: the willingness to weaponize unverified rumors in pursuit of factional dominance. By citing an unauthenticated voice note on a public podcast, the ANC veteran momentarily compromised her standing, allowing younger leaders like Lamola and Mbalula to seize the moral high ground and threaten litigation.

However, her refusal to explicitly apologize indicates that the ideological war over "money politics" is far from over. Dlamini-Zuma is tapping into a very real grievance within the ANC's grassroots—the belief that leadership is increasingly bought rather than earned.

While she may have lost this specific skirmish to Lamola, the underlying structural crisis she points to remains. If internal ANC disputes continue to be resolved through legal threats rather than robust internal democratic processes, the party risks further alienating a South African electorate that is growing increasingly weary of its endless, self-destructive factional battles.

Published by Leaders Mandate Regional Politics Desk | www.leaders.co.zw

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