ActionSA lodges complaint with PP against Justice Minister Simelane over VBS links
This on the back of a report published by News24 and Daily Maverick on Monday which details how during her tenure as mayor of Polokwane, Simelane took a loan of more than half-a-million rand from the same company that facilitated some R349 million worth of municipal investments into VBS.
Justice Minister Thembi Simelane. Picture: @GovernmentZA/X
JOHANNESBURG - ActionSA has lodged a complaint with the Public Protector against Justice Minister Thembi Simelane.
This on the back of a report published by News24 and Daily Maverick on Monday which details how during her tenure as mayor of Polokwane, Simelane took a loan of more than half a million rand from the same company that facilitated some R349 million worth of municipal investments into VBS.
In the report, Simelane insists everything was "above board".
But ActionSA wants the Public Protector to urgently initiate an investigation "and to probe the potential violation of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act".
The party’s parliamentary caucus leader, Athol Trollip: "If there is any evidence that the minister received an illicit loan from the proceeds of VBS bank looting she will be clearly conflicted in her role and her very appointment will be called into question."
Trollip said they'd also written to the president to inform him of their complaint.
"And we urge all state departments to do everything possible to bring every single person, regardless of political affiliation, to justice with the looting of people’s life savings from the VBS bank. This is a matter of enormous public importance."