Sicelo Shiceka: R1m+ in Luxury Travel, a First-Class Flight to a Girlfriend in a Swiss Prison, a Hotel Bill Inflated to R357,120

R1 million+ (travel, Public Protector findings)

documented loss

The Public Protector found in October 2011 that Cooperative Governance Minister Sicelo Shiceka had spent more than R1 million on travel including a R335,000 first-class flight to Switzerland — sold to the President as World Cup business, its "only aim" a visit to a girlfriend in prison — a R32,000 limousine, and a Lesotho hotel bill of R25,277 inflated tenfold to R357,120 under a false name. President Zuma dismissed him on 24 October 2011, the first Cabinet member removed on a Public Protector finding.

The Record In Their Own Words The Evidence The Named What Was Lost Implicated Institutions The Paper Trail

The Record

Sicelo Shiceka was the minister responsible for the governance of the country's municipalities. Between 2009 and 2010, the Public Protector found, he spent more than R1 million of public money on travel that had nothing to do with it: a R335,000 first-class flight to Switzerland presented to the President as World Cup business whose "only aim" was to visit a girlfriend in a Swiss prison; a R32,000 limousine; and a hotel bill in Lesotho of R25,277 that was invoiced at R357,120 under a false name. His bodyguard, Bheki Mthethwa, travelled with him.

Madonsela's report was released in October 2011. Shiceka said the evidence "was not given under oath" and vowed to go to court. On 24 October 2011 President Zuma dismissed him alongside Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde and suspended Police Commissioner Bheki Cele on the same day — the first time a Cabinet member had been removed on a Public Protector finding. Shiceka died in April 2012 before any further process.

In Their Own Words

Exhibit A · The Defence

“The evidence against him "was not given under oath"; he would challenge the findings in court.”

— Sicelo Shiceka · Response to the Public Protector report · 2011-10-01

The Evidence

Named

Institutions

Sources

Period · 2009–2011

Sector: Local Government / Municipalities · Scope: national

Alleged & Implicated

People documented as perpetrators, enablers, beneficiaries, orchestrators, political protectors, accused, or convicted in this case. Unless the case status is Convicted, allegations remain untested.

EV·01

Sicelo ShicekaAlleged PerpetratorDeceasedPP findings; dismissed 24 October 2011