Johannesburg - Dan Bovu, ANC councillor and former City of Joburg MMC for housing, has been charged with counts of fraud and theft.
ANC Joburg region spokesperson Jolidee Matongo says Bovu was charged at the Lenasia South Police station on Wednesday morning.
He was due to appear at the Commercial Crimes Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Matongo said the ANC understands the case relates to Bovu's alleged embezzlement when he was a member of the Thembelihle Trust.
It was alleged that a community member paid money into this trust account, expecting a house to be built in return.
No house was built and Bovu was accused of embezzling the money. The criminal case against Bovu was first opened in 2009.
"Comrade Dan Bovu informed the ANC Johannesburg Regional Secretary about the pending case against him a week ago," said Matongo.
"The case was never prosecuted but resurfaced in 2015 and it is in that year that the prosecution authority decided that there was no sufficient evidence to prosecute.
Matongo also revealed that it was only after Joburg mayor, Herman Mashaba and the DA coalition pushed for Bovu to be prosecuted, that he was arrested and then charged.
He said Bovu has offered to recuse himself from ANC and City of Joburg activities while this matter is before the courts.
"We have agreed to give comrade Dan the space he needs to deal with the matter."
"We are of the view that comrade Dan, like all South Africans, is innocent until proven guilty by a court of law."
Matongo revealed that the ANC Regional Executive Committee will convene an urgent meeting to discuss Bovu's matter and make a decision.
"The ANC Joburg Region wants to assure the people of Johannesburg that it will act without fear or favor in dealing with members and leaders found to have been involved in fraud and corruption."