DA Confirms Criminal Investigation Against Minister Simelane

(The Post News)- Democratic Alliance (DA) Spokesperson and Member of Parliament, Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach has confirmed the criminal investigation against the Minister of Human Settlement Thembi Simelane is underway, following charges laid by the DA.

Simelane is being investigated in relations to an alleged theft of more than R700,000 by fraudulently billing Eskom when she worked for consulting firm, Vitrovian. Eskom is reported to have used Vitrovian, to stop protests at the Kusile Power Plant that broke out during its construction.

Minister Simelane is the second Minister to be reported by the DA, after Minister of Higher Education Nobuhle Nkabane was reported for ‘lying’ about SETA board members appointments.

Breytenbach said Vitrovian’s charges to Eskom appeared to have been severely inflated, and Eskom was allegedly invoiced by Vitrovian for work done by employees that did not exist. She also revealed that Simelane’s signature appears on the first of these fraudulent invoices, which is directly implicating her in the scandal.

Simelane, who is also implicated in the criminal activities linked to the looting of VBS Bank while she was the Executive Mayor of Polokwane, DA said they are confident that the South African Police Service will conduct a thorough investigation into these serious allegations.

“The DA has for a long time now called for President Ramaphosa to remove Minister Thembi Simelane from the National Executive, along with all ANC Ministers and ANC Deputy Ministers under the cloud of corruption. It is time for President Ramaphosa to act against ANC corruption,” Breytenbach said.

Minister Simelane has been in a similar scandal before in 2024, after ActionSA lead by its Parliamentary Leader Athol Trollip laid criminal charges against her as the Justice Minister.

Criminal charges were for an alleged violations of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, as well as the common law crime of forgery in connection with the dodgy R575,600.00 “loan” she solicited from Gundo Wealth Solutions.

Furthermore, DA has challenged President Cyril Ramaphosa to publicly explain why he will not release Simelane from her duties since she is under criminal investigation, adding that the Minister can never be trusted with taxpayers money.