Cape Town — The Ministry of Justice has taken note of the criminal charges against Minister of Justice, Thembi Simelane, made by ActionSA.
In a statement, Ministry spokesperson, Tsekiso Machike, said the Department took note of ActionSA’s criminal charges laid against Simelane.
“The Ministry believes that the laying of criminal charges is the appropriate route to be taken whenever there are suspicions of unlawful conduct. An investigation into the matter will allow the matter to finally reach its logical conclusion,” Machike said.
The matter is currently subject to a police investigation, the Minister will no longer respond to any media enquiries until the matter has been concluded.
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE AND CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Republic of South Africa
MEDIA STATEMENT
01 October 2024
MINISTRY OF JUSTICE TAKES NOTE OF MEDIA REPORTS OF CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST MINISTER SIMELANE pic.twitter.com/mJVn3BS8sZ
— The DoJ & CD (@DOJCD_ZA) October 1, 2024
ActionSA laid criminal charges against Simelane for alleged violations of the Prevention and Combatting of Corrupt Activities Act, as well as her connection to the R575 600 loan she solicited from Gundo Wealth Solutions.
“ActionSA has taken this step following numerous appeals for accountability to the President, the Speaker of Parliament, and the Public Protector, all of whom appear unwilling to hold the Minister accountable for what are egregious allegations with serious implications for the vital role she plays in maintaining the integrity of our justice system,” ActionSA’s Athol Trollip said.
He said ActionSA was forced to take a step to ensure that Minister Simelane was held accountable for her actions, in the absence of any action taken by the President and Public Speaker.
Given the severity of the allegations against Simelane and the serious implications if she were found guilty, ActionSA believes accountabiltiy cannot be delayed further.
ActionSA called on Ramaphosa to suspend Simelane or she should hold hersefl accountable and step aside, while the investigations are still ongoing.
🚨 We have laid criminal charges against the embattled Justice and Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane today in Polokwane!
This is in connection with the latest revelations that the minister’s alleged VBS-related loan agreement was backdated years after it was… pic.twitter.com/nM04hZYqQb
— ActionSA (@Action4SA) October 1, 2024
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
