AfriForum’s Private Prosecutions Unit Calls on NPA to Reassess Corruption Case Involving ANC Secretary-General Mbalula

Johannesburg – The AfriForum Private Prosecutions Unit has reached out to Advocate Shamila Batohi, the National Director of Public Prosecutions, urging her to reinstate an investigation into Fikile Mbalula, Secretary General of the African National Congress (ANC), concerning alleged corruption during his role as a Cabinet Minister.

This controversy revolves around a trip to Dubai that Mbalula took as Minister of Sport and Recreation. In December 2016, he took his family on a vacation to Dubai, incurring costs exceeding half a million rand.

The matter came to light in February 2017 when S & J Bayliss CC, operating as Munlin Travel, pressured Mbalula to settle an outstanding bill of approximately R684,620 for the trip.

Concerns about potential misconduct related to the minister’s payment of the trip arose.

However, Mbalula has consistently claimed his innocence, stating that the sum in question was a loan that he ultimately repaid.

In a letter to Advocate Batohi, dated 2 October 2025, and reviewed by The Bulrushes, the private prosecutions unit questions the closure of this case and highlights various payments made to repay the loan following media reports.

Advocate Gerrie Nel, head of the AfriForum Private Prosecutions Unit, specifies in the correspondence regarding “the loan” repayments and investigates why the origins of these funds were not examined.

He points out that Yusuf Dockrat, a director at Sedgars Sport, a service provider for the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC), contributed R300,000 towards the total bill of R684,620.39 in February 2017.

At that time, both Mbalula and Dockrat denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the R300,000 used to pay the travel agency was a “loan.”

“Intriguingly, on 3 February 2017, Mr. Tsholofelo David Lejaka, a long-time associate of Mbalula from the ANC Youth League, delivered R150,000 in cash to Munlin Travel,” Advocate Nel notes in his correspondence to Batohi.

“Lejaka served as Mbalula’s chief of staff while he was deputy Minister of Police and later as Chief Director of Corporate Services at the Sports and Recreation Department.”

“Mbalula appointed Lejaka to lead Boxing SA on 20 May 2016, just months before the Dubai trip.”

In 2019, Mbalula became the Minister of Transport.

The subsequent year, in 2020, he assigned Lejaka to oversee the Driving Licence Card Account (DLCA).

“Notably, during the investigation into their Dubai holiday, police discovered that Lejaka made two payments of R50,000 to Mbalula on 10 October and 23 December 2016. The origins and purposes of these transactions remain uninvestigated,” Advocate Nel stated.

“Furthermore, the fact that the head of Boxing SA paid R100,000 to the minister who appointed him merely months earlier warrants scrutiny; however, considering the cash transactions made on behalf of the minister, the lack of investigation suggests a deliberate effort to protect Mbalula from legal repercussions.”

Advocate Nel also noted that on 6 February 2017, Mr. Zukisani Nazo, Lejaka’s secretary, made two cash deposits of R75,000 into Munlin Travel’s account at Lejaka’s behest and on behalf of Mbalula.

“Interestingly, these deposits were made at two separate ABSA Bank branches, Hatfield and Brooklyn, located just kilometers apart,” he observed.

“During the Dubai holiday investigation, police found evidence showing Lejaka had made two payments of R50,000 to Mbalula on 10 October and 23 December 2016. The source and purpose of these funds were not explored.”

“It is critical to note that the head of Boxing SA provided R100,000 to the minister who appointed him, warranting thorough investigation; however, the existence of hand-delivered cash payments for the minister highlights a failure to pursue inquiry, reinforcing the belief in an intentional effort to shield Mbalula from legal action.”

Advocate Nel reiterated that on 6 February 2017, Zukisani Nazo made cash deposits of R75,000 into Munlin Travel’s account at Lejaka’s request and for Mbalula.

“Interestingly, these transactions occurred at two different ABSA Bank branches within close proximity,” stated Advocate Nel.

“The source of the cash remains uncertain. However, it is widely acknowledged that these funds did not originate from Mbalula’s accounts.”

On 20 March 2017, an additional cash deposit of R85,000 was made at the FNB branch at OR Tambo International Airport into the account of debt collector Mr. Stephen van Graan.

“The origin of the R85,000 is also unclear, but it is generally understood that it did not derive from Mbalula or his wife’s accounts,” Advocate Nel mentioned.

“If the NPA considered this amount a loan, they must have overlooked the unusual circumstances surrounding the alleged loan and its repayment schedule.”

Barry Bateman, spokesperson for the unit, emphasized that Mbalula only repaid the “loan” after the media started probing into the trip and its financing.

Bateman remarked that the source of the funds used to repay the loan was inadequately scrutinized.

Advocate Nel contended that the decision not to prosecute was “irrational.”

He added: “Once again, we stress that this points to either selective prosecution or gross incompetence.”

“The prosecutor’s decision to forgo prosecution against Mr. Mbalula is unfounded.”

“We assert that the evidence in the case file sufficiently indicates that corruption has taken place.”

Advocate Nel called upon Advocate Batohi to reevaluate the evidence and reconsider the prosecutor’s choice not to take action against Mbalula.

He claimed that the prosecutor failed to impartially assess the case.

“We urge you to review these representations and draw conclusions based on the court’s reasoning in the Selebi case, adjusted to the current circumstances:

“(Mbalula) must have realized that (Dockrat’s) generosity and the (loan) he received created a situation in which, during his time as (Sports Minister), he would owe him a debt of gratitude and be inclined to favor him.”

Mbalula, who has consistently professed his innocence, has not faced any charges related to this issue.