Mbalula recovering after collapsing from emotional exhaustion: ANC

The African National Congress (ANC) says its Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula is receiving medical attention and recovering after collapsing from emotional exhaustion during a media briefing on Thursday.

The party confirmed that Mbalula collapsed due to immense emotional strain and a highly “heated” environment.

The collapse happened at Constitution Hill in Johannesburg right after Mbalula delivered an emotional speech.

He was celebrating a major Constitutional Court victory that reinstated 181 ANC councilor candidates who had initially been excluded from the upcoming November 4th local government elections.

ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa spoke to the media in Cape Town in a party’s campaign trail.

“The secretary general is getting better. He was under a lot of stress we must say. He was carrying a heavy burden as any secretary general would and if I was SG, I would probably have had a similar challenge and maybe even worse because I’m older. So, we must be grateful that he led the ANC with great distinction through this whole challenge. He had a little bit of a health situation but he’s recovering. I ordered him to rest until I and the doctors are satisfied that he’s fully okay. He’ll come back,” explains Ramaphosa.

LGE 2026 | Ramaphosa on the campaign trail in Cape Town