ANC spokesman Jackson Mthembu was arrested for alleged drunken driving in Cape Town.

The high-ranking official was driving in the bus lane of the N2 near the Raapenberg Road off ramp this morning, when a member of the city's Ghost Squad pulled him over. He was allegedly more than three times over the legal alcohol limit.

"The officer, who had no clue as to who he was, ascertained a strong smell of alcohol and arrested him," said mayoral committee member for safety and security, JP Smith.

Mthembu was taken to the Mowbray police station where a case of drunken driving was opened. "At the station officers were not keen to process the case. One allegedly said the ghost squad member who arrested him should herself be arrested."

Mthembu was taken to a 24hour alcohol testing centre in Athlone to be breathalysed before being taken back to Mowbray.

He is due to appear in court later today.