A formal complaint has been lodged with the Public Protector against Justice Minister Thembi Simelane, alleging her involvement in a “dodgy” loan from a company implicated in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal.
ActionSA has accused Simelane of receiving a R500,000 loan from Gundo Wealth Solutions, a company owned by Ralliom Razwinane, who brokered unlawful investments of R349 million into VBS on behalf of the Polokwane Municipality during her tenure as mayor in 2016.
The loan, reportedly used to purchase a coffee shop in Sandton, has raised concerns about Simelane’s integrity and potential conflicts of interest. As Justice Minister, she oversees the investigation and prosecution of those involved in the VBS collapse, including Razwinane, who is currently on trial for fraud, corruption, and money laundering.
ActionSA’s Athol Trollip has expressed grave concerns about Simelane’s involvement, stating,
The question is whether South Africa’s justice minister is possibly the recipient and beneficiary of illicit VBS cash… It is a matter of grave concern that Minister Simelane… is the very person responsible for the institution tasked with prosecuting corruption, potentially including this very matter.
The party has vowed to write to President Cyril Ramaphosa, seeking his intervention and potential removal of Simelane as Justice Minister if the Public Protector finds evidence of wrongdoing. The Justice Ministry has been contacted for comment, but none has been received at the time of publication.
