Minister of Justice Thembi Simelane has remained silent over the VBS cloud hanging over her head amid reports that she benefited from VBS looted funds.
The DA and ActionSA have raised their concerns over reports that Simelane took a loan from a company associated with the VBS funds.
On Monday, ActionSA confirmed that it had filed an urgent Public Protector complaint against Simelane.
This comes after two online publications revealed that during her tenure as mayor of Polokwane Municipality, she personally took a “loan” from an investment brokerage that facilitated the unlawful investment of R349 million from the municipality into the now-collapsed VBS Bank.
The party said it would be writing to President Cyril Ramaphosa to inform him of their displeasure over this matter.
It is reported that Simelane allegedly received R575 600 from Gundo Wealth Solutions, the investment brokerage firm owned by Ralliom Razwinane.
Razwinane is currently on trial for fraud, corruption and money laundering related to his role in facilitating connections and “investments” between municipalities, including the Polokwane Municipality and the now defunct VBS Bank.
The DA said it submitted a request to the chair of the Justice Parliamentary Portfolio yesterday for the Minister of Justice to appear before the portfolio to answer to these allegations.
“At the very least, the minister needs to be brought before Parliament to account for what measures she intends to put in place to manage the glaring conflict of interest between herself as Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development and her role involving the National Prosecuting Authority, which must surely be investigating the minister and this transaction,” the DA said.
ActionSA caucus leader Athol Trollip said the party would not sit idle without holding the new minister accountable for her association with looting of VBS, which was destroyed through corruption.
“Worryingly, the question we need answered is whether South Africa’s justice minister is possibly the recipient and beneficiary of illicit VBS cash, as the available information suggests. Consequently, it is a matter of grave concern that Minister Simelane, who now oversees the Department of Justice and who wields significant influence over the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), is the very person responsible for the institution tasked with prosecuting corruption, potentially including this very matter,” said Trollip.
Trollip said ActionSA also wants the Public Protector, advocate Kholeka Gcaleka, to investigate the matter because the minister who is trusted with ensuring justice is served cannot be allowed to taint her new office
“ActionSA believes this is a clear case of an obvious conflict of interest, with the integrity of the justice system under her stewardship at stake. It is simply untenable that the very person entrusted with ensuring justice is upheld in South Africa may herself be compromised, which, in turn, casts a shadow over the NPA’s ability to carry out its mandate impartially and without favour.
“We have therefore approached the Public Protector to urgently initiate an investigation into this matter and to probe the potential violation of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act. We simply cannot afford to overlook this issue, given the implications for our justice system. What’s more is the fact that everyone involved in the looting of VBS Bank needs to be prosecuted, regardless of their political affiliation,’ he said.
Furthermore, the party wants Ramaphosa to act against the minister should the findings of the Public Protector find Simelane guilty.
Should the Public Protector conclude that there is sufficient evidence of wrongdoing, ActionSA will write to Ramaphosa, requesting the immediate removal of Simelane as justice minister.
Attempts to get comment from the minister’s office were unsuccessful at the time of going to print.
The Star