Johannesburg – Former National Youth Development Agency head Andile Lungisa has asked to be relieved of his political duties while he deals with the criminal charges against him, the ANC said on Tuesday.

“We resolved to accept his request to be relieved of his political duties whilst he devotes his energy in clearing his good name from the damaging allegations that are now before our courts,” ANC Eastern Cape spokesperson Pindile Miza said in a statement.

Lungisa is one of the ANC Eastern Cape’s executive committee members.

On Friday, he appeared in the Johannesburg Specialised Commercial Crime Court on charges of fraud and money-laundering, with Thabo Shogolo, Xolisile Guquza, and Ursula Sali.

They allegedly accepted and shared among themselves R2.5m paid by the arts and culture department for the Nelson Mandela Sports Day concert.

They allegedly promised that US singer R Kelly would perform at the concert, but he did not.

The group was arrested after handing themselves to the Hawks on Friday.

Lungisa and Shogolo were granted bail of R10 000 each, Guquza was granted bail of R5 000, and Sali was released on a warning.

They were instructed to surrender their passports to the investigating officer, and not to make contact with State witnesses.

The case was postponed until 30 October.

– SAPA