Justice Minister Thembi Simelane is under scrutiny as allegations of misconduct swirl around her. The ANC secretary general, Fikile Mbalula, has come to her defense, stating that she has not been formally charged or found guilty by any oversight body.
Simelane is accused of receiving a R500,000 “loan” from Gundo Wealth Solutions, which facilitated unlawful investments by the Polokwane local municipality in the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank in 2016. Additionally, she is facing allegations of living beyond her means during her time as mayor of Polokwane. Despite these accusations, she has not been criminally charged.
Mbalula emphasized that the ANC’s step-aside rule only applies when formal legal action has been taken against a member. He stated that he would need to review the integrity commission’s report on Simelane before deciding on any action.
The decision to reassign Simelane to another ministerial department has drawn criticism from civil society organizations and ANC members, including veterans. President Cyril Ramaphosa made changes to his cabinet without addressing the allegations against Simelane.
Mbalula acknowledged the impact of the controversy on the party’s reputation and stated that the ANC would not interfere with ongoing state investigations. He expressed confidence in the independence of relevant institutions to handle the matter.
The ANC remains open to engaging with its veterans to address concerns about Simelane’s continued presence in the cabinet. Mbalula emphasized the party’s commitment to transparency and accountability in dealing with allegations of misconduct within its ranks.
