AfriForum has intensified its campaign to have ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula charged for corruption by launching a petition asking for South Africans to add their names to what they call “Mbalula Dossier.
AfriForum is circulating an SMS in which it is mobilising South Africans to support the civil rights organisation’s call for Mbalula to be indicted for alleged corruption.
The organisation said the initiative is aimed at accountability rather than influencing the upcoming local government elections.
Africa Daily has seen the SMS, attributed to AfriForum, which reads: “Gerrie Nel vat vir Fikile Mbalula aan. AfriForum eis, straf Fikile, nie SA nie. Sit jou naam by die dossier. SMS JA terug of STOP2OUT.”
Translated into English, the message states: “Gerrie Nel takes on Fikile Mbalula. AfriForum demands: punish Fikile, not South Africa. Add your name to the dossier. Reply YES or STOP2OUT.”
AfriForum Head of Public Relations Ernst van Zyl confirmed to Africa Daily that the SMS campaign is linked to a report released by the organisation earlier this year.
“This SMS relates to the Mbalula Dossier published by AfriForum in March 2026,” Van Zyl said.
The report, unveiled during a media briefing in March, details allegations of fraud, money laundering and corruption against Mbalula. It was compiled by advocate Gerrie Nel and investigators attached to AfriForum’s Private Prosecution Unit.
The allegations related to a luxury family trip to Dubai taken by Mbalula in December 2016 while he was serving as Minister of Sport. AfriForum alleges that the trip, valued at about R684 000 was funded by individuals linked to Sedgars Sport, a company that had secured contracts with the department.
The organisation has also questioned the source of cash payments allegedly made towards the trip and argues that aspects of the matter were not fully investigated.
Mbalula has consistently maintained that the funds constituted a loan which was later repaid.
Through the dossier, AfriForum sought to persuade the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) to revisit its decision not to prosecute Mbalula and indicated that it may pursue a private prosecution if prosecutors decline to do so.
The organisation had also called on the government of the United States to consider targeted sanctions against Mbalula under the Global Magnitsky Act, while arguing that any punitive measures should be directed at individuals rather than South Africa as a whole.
“A worsening diplomatic crisis has unfolded between the United States government and the South African government since 2025. The threat of sanctions is on the table,” Van Zyl said.
“AfriForum’s message is that if sanctions are used, they should target and punish corrupt politicians specifically in South Africa, and not the people of South Africa.”
Van Zyl said AfriForum has opted for a SMS-based mobilisation strategy because the organisation regularly communicates with the public and its membership base through a variety of platforms.
“AfriForum communicates with the South African public and our 300 000 members through various methods – SMS, social media, WhatsApp, radio, and more,” he said.
However, Van Zyl rejected suggestions that the campaign was linked to the upcoming local government elections.
“AfriForum is not a political party, so elections are not the primary driving force behind our campaigns. The goal of this campaign is to hold a politician accountable that seems to believe he is above the law.”
AfriForum also claimed that public reaction to the campaign has exceeded expectations.
“The public response has been massive and overwhelmingly positive,” Van Zyl said.
According to the organisation, the original press conference launching the dossier has accumulated close to 100 000 views across platforms, while Nel’s address has attracted approximately 460,000 views on YouTube.
Van Zyl further argued that support for the campaign cuts across racial and community lines.
“The public response from all communities, groups and races has been massive and overwhelmingly positive,” he said.
The campaign marks the latest chapter in an ongoing battle between AfriForum and Mbalula.
When the dossier was first released in March, both the ANC and Mbalula strongly rejected its contents, describing it as a politically motivated attempt to discredit the governing party and its secretary-general.
Mbalula also publicly dismissed AfriForum’s efforts and maintained that he was not intimidated by the organisation’s actions.
AfriForum has also come under criticism for its recent lobbying efforts in the United States, where together with Solidarity Movement,raised concerns about conditions in South Africa.
The ANC accused the organisations of misrepresenting the country internationally, while the engagements unfolded amid worsening relations between Pretoria and Washington.
Van Zyl however said AfriForum would continue pursuing the matter against Mbalula.
“No politician is above the law,” he said.
“AfriForum will ensure justice prevails in this case.”
ANC spokesperson Mahlengi Bhengu had not responded to our written questions at the time of publication.