ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula is under scrutiny after reports emerged of an undisclosed trip to Libya aboard a luxury jet linked to controversial cigarette businessman Adriano Mazzotti. The flight, which occurred in August, has raised significant questions about the purpose of the visit and the source of funding for the expensive travel arrangements....Click to Read More >>➤
Mbalula reportedly departed from Lanseria Airport on a rented Falcon 900 business jet (registration ZS-FCI). This aircraft is owned by Mazzotti but operated by the aviation company ExecuJet. The Secretary-General has since refused to disclose the reason for his visit to Benghazi or clarify who paid for the journey.
The estimated cost for such a flight, covering fuel, crew fees, and landing charges, is believed to be around R1.7 million. This substantial figure has intensified the demand for transparency regarding the Libya trip.
Flight Path and Media Silence
According to reports, Mbalula returned to Lanseria on 26 August, with a routing that included a stop in Entebbe, Uganda. Aviation sources suggest this detour was due to insurance restrictions, as leaving the aircraft overnight in a high-risk destination like Benghazi would have violated policy terms.
Notably, during his time in Libya, Mbalula was uncharacteristically quiet on his typically active social media channels. The only major event occurring in Benghazi at that time was a conference hosted by the African Union for continental security and intelligence services, known as CISSA 2025.
The conference, which ran from 20 to 27 August, included delegates from 53 African nations. However, Mbalula’s name does not appear on the official delegate list, and he is not visible in any of the conference’s published photographs. This absence is particularly notable given that, as secretary-general of the ANC, he holds no official government position that would typically warrant attendance at such a state-level security gathering.
Mbalula Remains Tight-Lipped on Libya Trip Details
When approached for comment by journalists, Mbalula was evasive. He stated, “Unfortunately, I can’t help you because I don’t understand your enquiry.” The ANC’s national spokesperson, Mahlengi Bhengu-Motsiri, has also been contacted for clarification. This story will be updated if a response is received.
This is not the first time an international journey by Mbalula has attracted controversy. The Libya trip echoes previous questions about his travel, including a family holiday to Dubai that is now the subject of a private prosecution.
History of Controversial Travel
Last year, lobby group AfriForum challenged the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) decision not to prosecute Mbalula over a family vacation to Dubai that took place between December 2016 and January 2017. At the time, Mbalula was South Africa’s sports minister.
The holiday was paid for by Sedgars Sports, a sports clothing manufacturer owned by the Dockrat family. This payment prompted an investigation after the former Public Protector, Busisiwe Mkhwebane, recommended in 2019 that the NPA probe whether the trip was funded with proceeds of money laundering.
A police docket was registered at the Brooklyn police station. However, the NPA ultimately declined to prosecute, citing a lack of evidence. Despite this, AfriForum has proceeded with a private prosecution regarding the Dubai trip.
In response, Mbalula has maintained his innocence. During an ANC media briefing, he dismissed AfriForum’s actions, stating, “There is no scandal, it has been proven. That matter has been subjected to an investigation and there was a public pronouncement on it. Now if some overenthusiastic braggarts think they can get something out of it then let them proceed with it.”
As questions mount over the latest Libya trip, the public is yet to receive a clear explanation for Mbalula’s travel or its funding. The ...Click to Read More >>➤
