Justice & constitutional development minister Thembi Simelane will this week find it difficult to sidestep queries about her glaring conflict of interest over alleged dodgy dealings with the VBS Mutual Bank, which imploded in 2018.
She has confirmed she will answer questions in parliament on Friday. Media reports alleged Simelane received a loan exceeding R500,000 from a company involved in illicit transactions with VBS.
Simelane, who now heads the National Prosecuting Authority, allegedly made two unlawful investments on behalf of the municipality in VBS while serving as mayor of Polokwane.
The payments reportedly appeared to be linked to kickbacks paid in exchange for deposits the municipality made to the financial institution. It is further alleged these bribes were paid to a company that then used a portion of that money to pay towards a loan used for the purchase of a coffee shop by the minister.
The reports state Simelane claimed the transaction was a legitimate commercial loan that was fully repaid, but neither the loan agreement nor proof of settlement of the loan have yet been provided.
VBS is accused of bribing politicians in some of SA’s poorest municipalities in Limpopo, convincing them to divert government budgets in exchange for cash and gifts.
It is unclear whether President Cyril Ramaphosa has met Simelane to demand answers. This week, he will be busy with matters of state such as beefing up trade relations with China.
China is among SA’s biggest trading partners and closest allies, which resulted in the expansion of the Brics — a grouping of emerging markets that want to reform global trade imbalances.
On the local front, illegal immigration will remain front and centre.
Home affairs minister Leon Schreiber will address the Cape Town Press Club on “the digital transformation of home affairs”. This is as the scourge of corruption at home affairs offices allows abusers of the systems to gain entry into SA.
SA’s record high levels of violent crimes will also come into sharp focus on Monday with Rise Mzansi conducting oversight visits at police stations in some of Johannesburg’s crime hotspots.
“The political establishment does not care about your safety and security because they have insulated themselves from the very crime that you and I are subjected to every single day,” party leader Songezo Zibi has previously said.
In a busy week in parliament, on Tuesday police minster Senzo Mchunu will lead a discussion on extortion. This is likely to revolve on the “construction mafia” holding projects to ransom.
Also on Tuesday, the DA will take on the issue of soaring electricity prices in a National Assembly debate.
With SA being a welfare state, there will be a question-and-answer session on the country’s social services.
On Thursday, deputy president Paul Mashatile will come under scrutiny as leader of government business during a question-and-answer session.
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