Malula’s Bombshell: South Africa’s Political Crisis Unfolds
In an extraordinary and emotional moment, South Africa’s National Assembly was rocked when ANC Secretary General Fiko Malula broke his silence on the arrest and imprisonment of former Minister Guided Mantesh.

The revelation sent shockwaves through the political landscape, exposing what many are calling one of the largest political scandals in South Africa’s democratic history.

For months, South Africans had speculated about Mantesh’s fate, the once-untouchable minister of mineral resources and energy, who was arrested at an international summit and detained on charges ranging from corruption to human rights violations.

Until now, the ANC had remained silent on the matter, frustrating public demand for answers.

That silence shattered dramatically during a tense media briefing in Johannesburg, where Malula stood before a room full of journalists, party officials, and ANC members.

The Moment of Truth
After a long pause, Malula dropped a bombshell.

He revealed that Mantesh’s arrest was not the result of a misunderstanding or political persecution, but the outcome of deliberate decisions made behind closed doors for personal gain.

Malula’s statement left the room in stunned silence, as cameras flashed and microphones struggled to capture his every word.

The ANC Secretary General’s speech would go on to outline a story of corruption and devastation on an international scale, implicating multiple foreign energy and mining corporations, as well as a vast network of illicit deals designed to bypass laws, environmental protections, and human rights.

According to Malula, Mantesh was at the center of a multi-billion-rand operation, linking powerful multinational corporations to illegal resource extraction across Southern and Central Africa.

The deals, executed outside public oversight, resulted in the forced displacement of entire communities, environmental devastation, and human suffering.

Malula described the situation as far more than just corruption, but rather as crimes against humanity.

He accused Mantesh of personally profiting from these activities, allegedly receiving millions of rand in offshore accounts and shell companies.

The Scandal Unveiled
Malula’s words were supported by damning evidence, including satellite images of devastated landscapes and financial ledgers connecting Mantesh to international banks.

He detailed how multinational corporations used local armed groups to secure mining concessions, turning already fragile regions into epicenters of violence.

The arrest of Mantesh, which took place during a major mining conference in Germany, was the culmination of 14 months of investigation by a coalition of international investigators, African whistleblowers, and environmental watchdogs.

Malula emphasized that these revelations represented just the tip of the iceberg, suggesting that Mantesh’s arrest was only one piece of a far larger puzzle.

A Moment of Vulnerability
The most emotional moment of the briefing came when Malula, visibly shaken, turned away from his prepared statements and addressed the people of South Africa directly.

In a rare display of vulnerability, he apologized to the victims of Mantesh’s actions: children poisoned by toxic water, grandmothers dispossessed of their land, and citizens who had placed their trust in the ANC.

Malula admitted that he had been instructed to remain silent but could no longer protect what he called the “rot at the heart of the system.”
He named multinational companies allegedly involved in the scandal, some of which had already been barred from operating in other African countries.

He made it clear that this was not the crime of one man, but a sprawling, greed-driven network that thrived on silence, power, and fear.

Malula’s heartfelt appeal captured the attention of the nation, and the room fell into stunned silence as he shared the horrifying consequences of these illicit dealings.

The Public’s Reaction: A Nation in Uproar
The public’s reaction was swift and intense.

Protests erupted in major cities like Johannesburg, Cape Town, and Durban, with thousands of South Africans demanding justice for the victims of Mantesh’s actions and calling for President Sir Remiposa’s resignation.

Civil society organizations also moved quickly, organizing marches and public forums while legal advocacy groups began drafting petitions to prevent implicated politicians from accessing state funds for their defense.

The political fallout from Malula’s revelation was immediate.

Analysts described the unfolding crisis as the ANC’s gravest since the end of apartheid.

Malula’s public break with Mantesh, and his willingness to expose the party’s corruption, threatened to tear apart the carefully constructed unity within the ANC.

With foreign governments and international watchdogs now involved, questions were raised about how South Africa’s law enforcement had failed to act, and whether President Remiposa had been complicit or simply too weak to confront the growing crisis within his own ranks.

Pressure on Ramaphosa: A Leadership Crisis
The pressure on President Ramaphosa has only intensified since Malula’s statements.

Rumors suggest that Mantesh may have invoked the president’s name during the illegal contract negotiations, using it to lend legitimacy to the deals.

If this is proven, it could fatally undermine Ramaphosa’s credibility both domestically and internationally.

Sources close to the presidency indicate that Ramaphosa is furious, scrambling to contain the political fallout while rumors circulate about further investigations into senior ANC officials.

Behind the scenes, crisis meetings are reportedly taking place, as party officials brace for more revelations.

Whistleblowers have reportedly identified other cabinet ministers and advisers as beneficiaries of the illicit network, and some names have already been passed to foreign law enforcement agencies, further destabilizing the ANC’s leadership.

A Defining Moment for South Africa’s Democracy
As the political storm intensifies, Malula’s speech is being viewed as a defining moment for South Africa.

The country, long struggling with corruption and inequality, is now faced with the unsettling reality that its leaders may not be who they claim to be.

Malula’s revelations have opened up a broader conversation about transparency, accountability, and the need for real change in South Africa’s political system.

The public, now more aware than ever of the systemic corruption within the ANC, is demanding more than just empty promises.

Citizens are demanding justice, answers, and the truth—no longer willing to accept the status quo.

The events surrounding Mantesh’s arrest have forced South Africa to confront its unresolved issues and are likely to shape the country’s political landscape for years to come.