Calls for Urgent Probe into Justice Minister's Alleged Ties with VBS Scandal Grow Stronger

ActionSA has formally approached the Public Protector to initiate an urgent investigation concerning Justice Minister Thembi Simelane’s alleged involvement in the scandal-ridden VBS Mutual Bank. The request, which places significant scrutiny on the Minister's possible contravention of the Executive Members’ Ethics Act, springs from reports that accuse Simelane of personally accepting an illicit "loan" from a corrupt intermediary, which managed the unlawful investment of R349-million from the Polokwane municipality into VBS.

These substantial allegations emerged during Simelane’s past tenure as the mayor of Polokwane. ActionSA parliamentary caucus leader Athol Trollip emphasised the gravity of the situation given that the implicated individual now heads the Department of Justice and indirectly influences the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA)—the entity potentially tasked with prosecuting cases of this exact nature.

Trollip conveyed the party’s stance, stating that should the Public Protector's investigation uncover convincing evidence of misconduct, they will petition President Cyril Ramaphosa to relieve Simelane of her ministerial duties forthwith. Such decisive action is deemed crucial to uphold the integrity of the South African justice system.

Echoing these concerns, the Democratic Alliance (DA) has tirelessly called for transparency, implying that the swirling maelstrom of accusations against Simelane poses a stark conflict of interest. DA spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development, advocate Glynnis Breytenbach, has pressed for the Minister's parliamentary accountability, insisting on clarity regarding how the NPA will maintain its objective stance amid these developments.

The DA's commitment to a fair and unbiased NPA remains resolute, and the party persists in its expectation of the institution to persist in its duties uninhibited. This comes against the backdrop of continued scrutiny over Simelane’s potential oversight over the very body that might investigate her.

These sentiments are shared by GOOD Secretary General and Western Cape Member of Parliament Brett Herron, who branded Simelane's position as "completely untenable." Drawing on the principles of an unblemished criminal justice process, Herron declared that the incumbent Minister's position is not only contradictory but unsustainable under the suspicion of criminal conduct. Herron capped his remarks by asserting that President Ramaphosa is obliged to act decisively for the sake of preserving an immaculate criminal justice system.

These calls to action emerge in the wake of testimonies last month by former VBS board chair Tshifhiwa Matodzi, underscoring a broader political entanglement with VBS Bank. Matodzi disclosed that various political factions, including the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) and an erstwhile ANC treasurer-general, had links to the bank through murky financial dealings.

These revelations have reignited questions about the separation between politics and state resources and have prompted calls from various corners for untainted leadership and an unassailable commitment to justice.