Two ANC leaders arrested after allegedly demanding R300,000 bribe

Two ANC leaders were arrested on 11 December in a sting operation at Menlyn Maine Central Square in Pretoria after allegedly attempting to solicit a R300,000 bribe.

This development brings a fresh blow to the party’s credibility just as its national general council (NGC) reaffirmed a zero-tolerance stance on corruption.

The Hawks’ Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit apprehended Raymond Nchane Moraile, regional secretary of the ANC’s Bojanala region, Peter Phaswana Lehong, a Madibeng ward councillor and member of the mayoral committee for public safety, and Menzi Mngadi, Lehong’s driver.

The trio appeared briefly in the Pretoria Magistrates Court on charges of corruption and money laundering. Their case was postponed to Monday for a formal bail application.

City Press reported that Moraile had left the ANC’s NGC midway through proceedings to meet Lehong before the pair travelled to Pretoria for what they believed would be a lucrative meeting with a contractor.

Instead, they walked into a sting set by that very businessman, the same individual they allegedly tried to extort.

The contractor had earlier approached the Hawks’ national office after the officials allegedly demanded R300,000 to secure his company’s placement on a panel of contractors for a Madibeng Municipality tender advertised in November.

The tender involves appointing 15 companies with heavy equipment to perform municipal work, including road repairs and drainage installation.

Investigators say one of the suspects first contacted the contractor to offer “assistance” in securing the tender.

A meeting was then arranged to negotiate the bribe. The businessman reported the approach to the Hawks, who obtained the necessary warrants and set up the undercover operation that culminated in Thursday’s arrests.

The case has been postponed to 15 December 2025.