"It's a criminal offence to buy a driver's licence (like a) ngathi ligwinya," Mbalula tweeted back, using a local word for a vetkoek. "It will get you, the traffic department and the driving school arrested."
Mbalula, nicknamed "Razzmatazz" from his time as sports and recreation minister, has more than 750 000 Twitter followers and sees his personal feed as a useful tool in the fight against South Africa's high crime rates.
While South Africa's traffic laws and regulations are tight by African standards, reports of driving instructors asking for bribes or people driving without a valid licence are common.
And Twitter was quick to remind Mbalula that President Jacob Zuma also 'joked' that he gave the late Ontlametse Phalatse's mother money to buy her licence.
@MbalulaFikile @SnaloMbombo @SnaloMbombo ask Jacob Zuma, he encouraged Ontlametse s mother to buy a license.
— Mara Y Jacob! (@SV818406) May 10, 2017
@MbalulaFikile @Naomi84116 pic.twitter.com/vrqm5ClgG6
— Mhayise (@sazi_hlatshwayo) May 10, 2017
@MbalulaFikile So then when a u arresting Zuma,Ontlamentse mom, traffic department officer?
— NICHOLAS WALE HOLOFA (@NICOLEMVN) May 10, 2017
@MbalulaFikile @SnaloMbombo @SnaloMbombo ask Jacob Zuma, he encouraged Ontlametse s mother to buy a license.
— Mara Y Jacob! (@SV818406) May 10, 2017