The Bheki Cele has come under fresh pressure after the ANC’s Integrity Commission reportedly recommended that he resign from the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).
The recommendation has reportedly sent shockwaves through ANC structures in eThekwini and the broader African National Congress, particularly as some influential party members had been lobbying for Cele to become the ANC’s mayoral candidate for the metro ahead of the November local government elections.
According to reports, the ANC NEC was briefed by the party’s Integrity Commission — often referred to within the organisation as its “body of elders” — regarding allegations that Cele continued associating with individuals accused of criminal conduct after leaving Cabinet.
Sources cited in the reports claim the commission raised concerns about Cele’s alleged continued association with what it described as “unscrupulous” individuals.
The reported recommendation could significantly impact Cele’s political future, especially amid speculation about his possible return to frontline politics through local government.
Neither the ANC nor Cele had publicly responded to the reported recommendation at the time of publication.
