Former Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa Dies at 60 Amidst Corruption Charges

Former Gauteng Health MEC Brian Hlongwa Passes Away

Brian Hlongwa, the former Gauteng Health Member of the Executive Council (MEC) and African National Congress (ANC) Chief Whip in the provincial legislature, has died at the age of 60. He passed away on Tuesday night, December 23, 2025, after a short illness, with his death confirmed by Gauteng ANC provincial task team spokesperson Mzi Khumalo. Hlongwa's passing occurred in hospital, just months before he was scheduled to stand trial on serious corruption charges.

Long-Standing Corruption Allegations

At the time of his death, Hlongwa was facing extensive corruption charges. These charges stemmed from a Special Investigating Unit (SIU) report that implicated him in alleged fraudulent and corrupt transactions amounting to R1.2-billion within the provincial health department during his tenure as MEC from March 2006 to May 2009.

In 2021, Hlongwa, his then-wife Joeline Davids-Hlongwa, and six other co-accused were formally charged with:

• Fraud
• Corruption
• Money laundering
• Racketeering activity under the Prevention of Organised Crime Act

These offences were allegedly committed between 2006 and 2010. The SIU report, which became public in 2018, detailed alleged corrupt relationships between Hlongwa, various departmental officials, and a company named 3P Consulting. It was alleged that 3P Consulting facilitated benefits for Hlongwa, including property purchases, international flights, and luxury spa treatments. Hlongwa had consistently denied these allegations, maintaining his innocence.

Legal Proceedings and Political Career

The corruption case against Hlongwa and his co-accused was set to proceed to trial in April 2026. He had been granted R20,000 bail in December 2021 following his appearance in court. One of his co-accused, Richard John Payne, is reportedly yet to be extradited from the UK.

Beyond his controversial tenure as Health MEC, Hlongwa had a notable political career. He served in various capacities within the ANC and government, including as an ANC councillor and Member of the Mayoral Committee (MMC) in Johannesburg. He was also the ANC's Chief Whip in the Gauteng Provincial Legislature until his resignation in 2018 amidst the corruption scandal. The ANC in Gauteng remembered Hlongwa as a 'patriot, educator, and dedicated servant of the people' and an activist who fought against apartheid.