Cape Town — Parliament’s Justice and Constitutional Development will seek legal opinion before it processes the information received by Minister Thembi Simelane for her alleged involvement with VBS Bank.
Simelane appeared before the Portfolio Commission where she was asked to explain the role she had to play in this scandal. She revealed that she did not have improper relations with Gundo Wealth Solutions and that she received her loan from them, and not VBS.
According to SABC News, Committee chairperson, Xola Nqola, said there was a certain amount of relief that must be afforded to Simelane over what had happened and will look for legal opinion by legal parliament services.
“Regarding the loan I took, allegations of a conflict of interest, both then and now, cannot be sustained when considering the true and correct facts.” pic.twitter.com/wUptTsLSD3
— The DoJ & CD (@DOJCD_ZA) September 6, 2024
“We are sure that you are also going to share with us what would have been the advice from your counsels. But also from our side, you are on record saying the money was repaid. You have given us the dates when the money was repaid. You have affirmed here in front of everyone, that you don’t only have financial statements from your bank accounts. You have financial statements from the accounts where the money was paid to,” says Nqola.
Simelane had presented her report to MPs in Cape Town and said she had asked Gundo for advice on how to best finance, and it was Gundo who offered her the loan. She said there was no conflict of interest in her view when she took the loan from Gundo.
As reported by The Citizen, political experts and analysts are calling for Simelane to resign after it believed that her attempts to explain her involvement were unconvincing.
Members of the committee and experts recommended that she step down to allow the investigation to continue, but Simelane said in her report that her position did not allow her to interfere with the investigation.
VBS saga: Calls for Simelane to step aside after failing to allay MPs’ conflict of interest fears https://t.co/ErBBZduqPs
— Yusuf Abramjee (@Abramjee) September 7, 2024
“I will not and cannot interfere with the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the police who are investigating the case. That will never happen,” she said.
The DA’s Glynnis Breytenbach was concerned that a conflict of interest would negatively impact the investigations and believed Simelane would influence the investigations.
The African Christian Democratic Party’s Steven Swart said there was a conflict of interest and maintained that Simelane may not abuse her power, but if she remains in that position, the possibility exists.
🔥 Watch as Adv Glynnis Breytenbach holds Justice Minister Thembi Simelane accountable for her involvement in the VBS scandal that robbed vulnerable victims.
Will the NPA or other agencies act independently while Simelane remains a Minister? She must answer for her links to VBS. pic.twitter.com/MonCAvPqtK
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) September 6, 2024
The EFF’s Busisiwe Mkwebane criticised Simelane for saying that she would not interfere with the investigation and maintained that as long as she was responsible for the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), there will be a conflict of interest.
ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip said his party was not convinced that the minister had adequately answered the critical questions.
♦️Must Watch♦️
EFF MP, @AdvBMkhwebane asked Minister Thembi Simelane to elaborate on Section 96 of the Constitution.
The Minister appeared before the Justice and Constitutional Development Portfolio Committee on the VBS matter.#EFFInParliament pic.twitter.com/8xMGKixay8
— Economic Freedom Fighters (@EFFSouthAfrica) September 6, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
