Ndebele's resignation comes after months of speculation about his fate in office as he is facing fraud and corruption charges. Ndebele‚ a member of the ANC national executive committee‚ was indicted in December for allegedly accepting R10-million from companies linked to Tasima through his Investec Bank account in 2010.

"The DA welcomes the resignation of Sbu Ndebele‚ corruption and fraud-accused former Minister of Transport‚ as South Africa’s High Commissioner to Australia‚" the DA said in a statement.

"Ndebele stands as accused number one in the matters brought against him and six others‚ who are facing 15 charges. These include bribery‚ money laundering‚ corruption and fraud for allegedly accepting a bribe of R10 million while still Minister of Transport in 2010 from Tasima‚ a company managing the electronic National Traffic Information System (eNatis)‚ for an illegal extension of its more than R2 billion contract‚" the DA added.

The party added that corruption and fraud have become "symptomatic of the current ANC government" adding that this needs to be rooted out if the country wants to make any progress in serving the needs of ordinary South Africans.

The former minister is currently out on R10‚000 bail ahead of his December court appearance to answer the charges brought against him.

He is to appear in the Commercial Crimes Court for the alleged irregular extension of Tasima’s contract to manage the Electronic National Administration Traffic Information System while he was minister.