Ramaphosa erred by not firing Simelane, says Freedom Under Law
Thembi Simelane on Tuesday night traded places with Mmamoloko Kubayi, who has been in charge of human settlements and now moves to justice in President Cyril Ramaphosa's first mini-shuffling of his Cabinet in the new administration.
FILE: President Cyril Ramaphosa engaging with members of the media following his Oral Reply to questions to the nation on various national developments during the hybrid sitting of the National Council of Provinces held at the National Council of Provinces in Cape Town on 12 September 2024. Picture: GCIS
CAPE TOWN - Legal advocacy group, Freedom Under Law (FUL), says it believes President Cyril Ramaphosa erred in exercising his executive authority by not firing Cabinet minister, Thembi Simelane.
Simelane on Tuesday night traded places with Mmamoloko Kubayi, who has been in charge of human settlements and now moves to justice in Ramaphosa's first mini-shuffling of his Cabinet in the new administration.
Phumzile Mgcina FROM Deputy Minister of Labour Labour & Employment TO Deputy Minister of Mineral & Petroleum Resources.
— EWN Reporter (@ewnreporter) December 3, 2024
Judith Nemadzinga-Tshabalala FROM Deputy Minister of Mineral & Petroleum Resources TO Deputy Minister of Labour & Employment. TCG
(2/2). pic.twitter.com/Yn721qNOmb
FUL's executive director, Judith February, said that the move sent a message of a lack of accountability by those facing serious corruption allegations.
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Simelane has faced several months of scrutiny for having allegedly benefited from fraudulent loans from the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.
Freedom Under Law said that Ramaphosa's reshuffle was baffling.
February said that irrespective of which ministry she heads up, Simelane's credibility will continue to be undermined for as long as the allegations against her are not fully addressed.
"We also note that the president's statement regarding the reshuffle last night came without any proper justification nor did it provide any details of the report regarding Ms Simelane's conduct, which the president has had in his possession since mid-September."
Simelane received a loan of more than R500,000 through a dodgy broker working with VBS Bank while she was the Polokwane mayor.
On Tuesday, the VBS corruption allegations were compounded by a Scorpio investigative unit audit of Simelane's lifestyle during her tenure as Polokwane mayor.
February said that Minister Kubayi's lack of legal experience or the administration thereof was also concerning.
"At a time when the justice system is under serious pressure and our institutions are struggling to repurpose themselves after a decade of state capture, the new minister will need to do much to prove that she's up to the task."
Besides human settlements, Kubayi has served in at least four ministerial portfolios in previous administrations, including science and technology, communications, energy and tourism.