By Simon Nare
Former police minister Bheki Cele and former social development minister Nokuzola Sisisi Tolashe are among five ANC members who have been referred to the party’s disciplinary committee on charges of bringing the organisation into disrepute.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula told reporters at a post-NEC briefing on Tuesday that, after appearing before the party’s Integrity Commission, Cele, Tolashe and three other members will now face formal disciplinary charges.
He said Tolashe was referred to the commission by his office following a series of allegations, which ultimately led to her dismissal by President Cyril Ramaphosa.
The final straw, he said, stemmed from findings by the Public Service Commission, which uncovered irregular appointments and systemic failures in recruitment processes within her department.
Parliamentary committees had previously raised concerns over appointments and governance in the ministry, with the Portfolio Committee on Social Development noting it had been monitoring allegations of irregular recruitment since October 2025.
The committee said the PSC investigation confirmed “serious systemic failures” in recruitment processes, including the appointment of Lesedi Mabiletja as private secretary and later acting chief of staff.
Cele, meanwhile, voluntarily appeared before the Integrity Commission to respond to allegations raised by alleged crime boss Vusi “Cat” Matlala.
Matlala told a parliamentary ad hoc committee that he paid Cele a R500 000 bribe in two separate instalments, allegedly after the former minister demanded it as a facilitation fee to halt police harassment and return seized firearms.
Mbalula said the five members will now face the ANC’s national disciplinary committee.
“All these comrades presented themselves to the Integrity Commission. Sisi Tolashe was referred to the Integrity Commission by the secretary-general to deal with that matter. Bheki Cele presented himself voluntarily to explain the Matlala matter, and so on. Once they present themselves, they have not been charged yet, but they have been found to have brought the party into disrepute,” Mbalula said.
“So the matter is now referred to formally charge them before the disciplinary committee. The disciplinary committee will then decide what is appropriate. But the Integrity Commission has found them to have brought the party into disrepute.”
Mbalula also announced that the NEC had resolved that all regional secretaries must be full-time employees and will be given until the end of June to relinquish any other responsibilities.
“It has been agreed that they must all be full time, and the SG must enforce that with immediate effect. No regional secretary who is expected to be full time in the party must hold public service office,” he said.
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