Police Minister Bheki Cele has announced his intention to step down following the recent general election to prioritise time with his family.
Cele, who has been police minister since February 2018, will not be returning to Parliament along with several other African National Congress (ANC) MPs, including International Relations Minister Dr Naledi Pandor, Defence Minister Thandi Modise and Social Development Minister Lindiwe Zulu.
The four ministers were not elected after the ANC's vote share in the May 29 election fell to just over 40%.
Cele's career has seen him hold a number of senior positions, including as national police commissioner from 2010 to 2011, before he was suspended over allegations of misconduct. He will be stepping down gracefully to focus on his personal life.
“An end has come and a new beginning has come. I left home to come to work and if there is no work I will come home and think how to move on from now on. There are many flows in life and when the time comes, you cannot kick the dirt, ask people as if you don't know the time is coming and worry. As I said, what begins will end. I am grateful to the people of South Africa and especially my organisation, the ANC, for giving me the opportunity,” says Cele.