Mnyamezeli Booi, an ANC MP facing Travelgate charges who has refused to negotiate a plea bargain and insists on being tried to clear his name, as been made chief whip of the ruling party.
His appointment was one of several changes announced by ANC secretary-general Gwede Mantashe at a media briefing on Thursday.
Several positions became vacant when a number of portfolio committee chairs were appointed ministers or deputy ministers last month. The appointments followed a spate of resignations after Thabo Mbeki was recalled as president.
Booi succeeds Nathi Mthethwa - who is now Minister of Safety and Security.
He was the only MP who refused to enter a plea bargain agreement with the state after being implicated in the Travelgate fraud scandal. He insisted he was innocent and was determined to fight the charges in court.
His trial is to begin in February.
Booi has had harsh words for the Scorpions, which investigated Travelgate.
A member of parliament's safety and security committee, he has, however, recused himself from all the public hearings and deliberations on the Scorpions bills.
Booi's promotion to chief whip on Thursday coincided with the adoption in the National Assembly of the bills, which are to replace the Scorpions with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation.
Bulelani Magwanishe, the ANC whip in the justice committee, has been named deputy chief whip, taking over from Andries Nel, who held the position for years.
Nel has been promoted to chair of the House, replacing Geoff Doidge, who is now Minister of Public Works.
Former Cape Town mayor Nomaindia Mfeketo's star continues to rise under the new ANC leadership in Luthuli House.
Mantashe announced that Mfeketo, who joined Parliament in May and a few weeks was named chair of the provincial and local government portfolio committee, has been made chair of the ANC caucus.
She succeeds Nozizwe Madlala-Routledge, who was axed as deputy health minister by Mbeki last year and who last month took over from Gwen Mahlangu-Nkabinde as Deputy Speaker.
Advocate Cecil Burgess replaces Siyabonga Cwele, appointed Minister of Intelligence, as chair of the joint standing committee on intelligence, a civilian oversight body.
Jane Matsomela, an ANC backbencher since 2005, is to chair the public service and administration committee, of which she has been a member.
The chair became vacant when Richard Baloyi replaced Geraldine Fraser Moleketi as public service and administration minister.
Benjamin Ntuli replaces Fezile Bhengu as chair of the defence committee.
He has served on a number of committees during his 14 years as an MP.
Foreign affairs committee member Zwelethu "Mighty" Madasa is to chair the committee on international relations.
Vincent Smith, a long-serving MP and member of a number of committees, including the watchdog standing committee on public accounts (Scopa), is to chair the standing committee on the auditor-general.
This committee was chaired by Barbara Hogan, who has replaced Manto Tshabalala-Msimang as minister of health.
There have also been changes in the National Council of Provinces.
Mshiyeni Sogoni becomes chairperson of the joint budget committee, while Mbhazima Sibiya is to head the select committee on the economic cluster and Buti Mkhaliphi the select committee on provincial and local government.
Faith Mazibuko takes over as chair of the joint standing committee on the quality of life and status of women.