Nathi Nhleko career timeline: Mbalula digs into him

Former Minister of Police Nathi Nhleko has resigned from the ANC on Monday 4 March 2024.

Nhleko said in his resignation that he finds it painful to witness the ANC change and criticising its adoption of austerity measures and the dismantling of state-owned companies.

NATHI NHLEKO’S DEPARTURE SIGNALS DISILLUSIONMENT WITH ANC

Nhleko cited in his resignation that another reason that he came to a decision of leaving the ANC was an apparent heated exchange of words with the ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula.

Nhleko says Mbalula made remarks about covering up for former president Jacob Zuma with regard to the Nkandla issue and had contributed to his decision to leave the governing party.

Mbalula said in a tweet: “I see Nathi Nhleko has resigned from the ANC and he blame it on me. What a cheap wayout ,This fellow told the whole country that a swimming pool is a firepool, He replaced a competent police officer [Anwar] Dramat crime fighter with an apartheid disastrous erratic cop called Berning Ntlemeza [former head of the Hawks] whom i showed the door immediately when i took over as police minister. Wait till i tell you what he advised me to do at a handover meeting.”

I see Nathi Nhleko has resigned from the Anc and he blame it on me,What a cheap wayout ,This fellow told the whole country that a swimming pool is a fire pool, He replaced a competent police officer Dramat crime fighter with an apartheid disastrous erratic cop called Berning…

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) March 5, 2024

“I see Nathi Nhleko strutting like a peacock calling his shameful report on Nkandla a ‘research’. No shame at all – this guy was reprimanded for that report by the highest court in the landed [sic].” said Mbalula.

I See Nathi Nhleko strutting like a peacock calling his shameful report on nkandla a " research." no shame at all this guy was reprimanded for that report by the highest court in the landed. THAT REPORT WAS SET ASIDE BY THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT IN THE FAMOUS JUDMENT DELIVERED BY…

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) March 5, 2024

CAREER TAKES A HIT

Nhleko political career has been riddled by controversies, from his involvement in the infamous Nkandla upgrades to his recent resignation from the ANC. His career took a drastic turn marked by scandals and the ANC’s issues.

One of the defining moments of Nhleko’s career was during his tenure as minister of police under former president Jacob Zuma’s administration.

Nhleko faced immense scrutiny for his role in the Nkandla scandal, where millions of taxpayer rands were spent on upgrading Zuma’s private residence, including the construction of a so-called “firepool”.

This firepool, purportedly built for firefighting purposes, became a symbol of the excessive spending and corruption that plagued Zuma’s presidency.

SABC News reported that Nhleko’s handling of the Nkandla investigation further tarnished his reputation. In a widely criticised move, he exonerated Zuma of any wrongdoing, absolving him of the responsibility to repay the public funds used for the upgrades.

This decision sparked outrage among opposition parties and civil society groups, who accused Nhleko of whitewashing the scandal to protect Zuma and the ANC’s interests.