Justice Minister Thembi Simelane will appear before Parliament’s Justice Portfolio Committee on Friday.
This comes after pressure from opposition parties who want her to explain her role in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal.
The department announced that Simelane will “present clarity on issues related to VBS” during the meeting. She is also expected to meet with the ANC’s integrity commission to explain her part in the VBS matter.
ANC Secretary-General Fikile Mbalula confirmed that Simelane will report to the integrity commission.
“We’ll get the report, and then Thembi will have to go to the integrity commission,” he told eNCA.
“We are expecting a full report from her in terms of what has been reported. She has to report to the SG.”
Simelane is accused of taking a R575,600 loan in 2016 from Gundo Wealth Solutions, a company owned by director Ralliom Razwinane.
The loan is suspected to have been part of an illegal investment of R349-million by the Polokwane Municipality into the now-collapsed VBS Mutual Bank when Simelane was the city’s mayor.
Reports say Simelane used the loan to buy a coffee shop in Sandton. This transaction is linked to Razwinane, who is facing charges for getting business for VBS from municipalities.
DA MP and justice spokesperson Glynnis Breytenbach has raised serious concerns.
She said the minister needs to show what measures she intends to put in place to manage the conflict of interest between herself as Minister of Justice and her role involving the National Prosecuting Authority.
“The NPA must surely be investigating the minister and this transaction,” she said.
President Cyril Ramaphosa has also asked Simelane for a detailed report on the allegations, while ActionSA filed a complaint with the Public Protector against her.
Compiled by Staff Writer
Pictured above: Justice Minister Thembi Simelane.
Source: X
