In South Africa, Justice Minister Thembi Simelane had to explain herself before Parliament at the end of last week following accusations of corruption. She allegedly received a loan in 2016, since repaid, in order to open a café, while she was at the time mayor of the city of Polokwane. But this money came from a fraudulent affair involving a South African bank.
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With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès
The money, which amounts to more than half a million rand, or about €25,000, was lent to the current Minister of Justice ofSouth Africa by a man who is now being prosecuted, along with others, for looting the VBS Mutual Bank. The collapse of this mutual bank saw many savers, mostly black and from the lower classes, lose their savings, in this scandal nicknamed ” the big bank heist “.
However, it was under the mandate of Thembi Simelane, then mayor of Polokwane, that the municipality had invested millions of rand in this same bank, which raises suspicions over this loan, which could be considered as a favour in return.
Will the minister keep her post?
According to local press reports, the police raided the offices of her former assistant last week. And now the question of whether the minister should continue in her post is being raised. During her hearing in Parliament, several MPs from parties other than the ANC expressed concern about a possible conflict of interest and Thembi Simelane’s ability to handle judicial matters within the government.
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