ANCYL Leader Zwelo Masilela
By Thabo Mosia
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula has confirmed that ANC Youth League (ANCYL) Treasurer-General Zwelo Masilela will face the party’s Integrity Commission following a contentious bid for a seat on the National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) board. The announcement comes amid a storm of controversy sparked by allegations of discrepancies in Masilela’s qualifications and employment history, raising questions about accountability within the ANC and its youth wing.
Masilela Referred to Integrity Commission Amid NYDA Fallout
In a candid discussion with eNCA journalist Tshidi Madia on the Politricks podcast, aired today, Mbalula addressed the escalating scrutiny surrounding Masilela. “That matter is going to the Integrity Commission. It will be investigated fully, and an account will have to be given,” he stated, responding to claims raised by Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) MP Sihle Lonzi during a parliamentary committee session. The referral signals a significant step by the ANC to address internal governance as it navigates an “existential crisis” following its 40% performance in the 2024 national elections.
Masilela’s troubles began on 26 February 2025, when Lonzi grilled him during an NYDA board interview before the Portfolio Committee on Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities. According to Masilela’s CV, he worked as a senior researcher at Mbombela Local Municipality from 2016 to 2023, despite only obtaining a Diploma in Journalism from Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) in 2021. Lonzi seized on this discrepancy, questioning how Masilela held a senior role for seven years without the requisite qualifications. “Parliament searched for the candidate’s qualification records and found nothing—because they do not exist,” Lonzi posted on X, amplifying the issue.
Masilela’s elimination from the NYDA shortlist was confirmed on 5 March 2025 by committee chair Liezl Linda van der Merwe, after two unnamed MPs scored him zero during the evaluation process. The National Assembly later adopted a report recommending nine other candidates for the NYDA board, excluding Masilela.
ANC Defends, EFF Attacks
The fallout has exposed deep divisions. ANC MPs, including Noble Tshiamo Tshotetsi and Tshehofatso Chauke, have rallied to Masilela’s defence, alleging a politically motivated smear campaign. Tshotetsi cited the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), arguing that leaking Masilela’s scores was an attempt to “mobilise some sort of humiliation.” Chauke accused Lonzi of exploiting the committee for “electioneering” to curry favour with EFF leader Julius Malema.
Meanwhile, the EFF has intensified its offensive. On 27 February 2025, Lonzi lodged a complaint with Public Protector Adv. Kholeka Gcaleka, alleging violations of the Municipal Systems Act and potential misuse of state resources at Mbombela. The following day, the EFF announced plans to file criminal charges against Masilela, though specifics remain undisclosed. Mbombela City Manager Wiseman Khumalo pledged cooperation with any investigation, but the municipality has yet to clarify Masilela’s appointment process.
ANCYL President Collen Malatji has dismissed the allegations as a “witch-hunt,” defending Masilela’s tenure at Mbombela as a legitimate political deployment pre-2021 amendments to the Municipal Systems Act. “The best thing that he did was to also declare it because normally people will not declare,” Malatji told reporters on 27 February 2025. He also took aim at Malema, accusing the EFF of hypocrisy given the VBS scandal.
Mbalula’s Stance: Discipline and Renewal
Mbalula, speaking on Politricks, underscored the ANC’s commitment to discipline amid its renewal efforts. “Should there be any mischief on the part of the candidate… steps will have to be taken,” he warned, noting that breaking Rule 25 of the ANC constitution—bringing the party into disrepute—carries consequences. He revealed having questioned Malatji directly, who assured him of Masilela’s integrity. “I made it very clear to him that… if any substance is deduced out of the claims by the EFF, there will be consequences,” Mbalula added.
This development aligns with broader ANC efforts to address a “trust deficit,” as Mbalula described it, following electoral setbacks and public criticism of cadre deployment. A News24 report on 5 March 2025 quoted analyst Ralph Mathekga, who called Masilela’s case “a classic example of how patronage networks undermine public institutions,” intensifying pressure on the ANC to act decisively.
New Context: NYDA Board Appointments and Public Reaction
On 18 March 2025, Parliament issued a statement confirming the National Assembly’s adoption of the NYDA board recommendations. The nine appointees—Kelly Sandra Baloyi, Thembisile Precious Mawuha, Dr Wiseman Mfaniseni Mbatha, Bonga Sipheshile Makhanya, Sibusiso Makhathini, Irfaan Mangera, Dr Sunshine Minenhle Myende, Busisiwe Nandipha Nxumalo, and Xabiso Nicholas Nyati—bring diverse qualifications and experience, contrasting sharply with Masilela’s contested credentials.
Public reaction on X has been polarised. Supporters of the ANCYL echo Malatji’s defiance, with one user posting on 6 March 2025, “Zwelo is being targeted because he’s a threat to the EFF’s youth agenda.” Critics, however, see it as emblematic of ANC dysfunction, with another writing, “This is why the ANC lost 2024—cronyism over competence.”
What’s Next for Masilela and the ANC?
The Integrity Commission’s investigation will be a litmus test for the ANC’s renewal narrative. With the 2026 local government elections looming, Mbalula stressed the need to refocus the party on serving South Africa rather than internal squabbles. “We are serving South Africa here… we respect South Africa, and that is what is important,” he told Madia.
For Masilela, the outcome could define his political future. If the commission finds evidence of wrongdoing, he could face suspension or expulsion, further denting the ANCYL’s credibility. Conversely, a clean slate might bolster the ANC’s defence of its deployment practices—though sceptics remain unconvinced.
As the Public Protector’s probe and potential criminal case unfold, this saga underscores the high stakes for the ANC in restoring public trust. For now, all eyes are on the Integrity Commission’s next move.
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