ANC internal structures should be given room to probe Simelane's VBS graft claims: Mashatile

JOHANNESBURG - African National Congress (ANC) Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the party’s internal structures should be allowed space and time to look into Minister of Justice Thembi Simelane’s corruption allegations linked to the now defunct VBS Mutual Bank.

Mashatile weighed in on Simelane’s VBS scandal on the sidelines of a regional meeting in Ekurhuleni on Sunday.

ALSO READ: Thembi Simelane gave full account to Mbalula's office on VBS corruption allegations - ANC

News24 and Daily Maverick reported that Simelane unlawfully invested municipal funds in the bank when she was the mayor of Polokwane.

She's believed to have benefitted from a R500,000 loan from the same company that facilitated the illicit investment in the bank.

Simelane, who has firmly denied any wrongdoing, has accounted to Parliament and is expected to do the same with both the president and the ANC’s internal structures.

Last week, ANC Secretary General Fikile Mbalula confirmed Simelane would be required to appear before the party's integrity commission to provide a detailed explanation of her connections to the VBS scandal.

While Mashatile has refrained from expressing his views on the allegations against the minister, he said internal procedures would kick in if necessary.

“The integrity commission operates independently from the NEC [national executive committee]. If they feel the need to summon comrade Thembi, they will do so.”

The integrity commission could potentially direct Simelane to step aside from her ministerial role until her name is cleared.