DA urges Ramaphosa to break silence on Simelane loan scandal
The Democratic Alliance says it’s time for President Cyril Ramaphosa to clarify his decision to appoint a Minister with such a troubling background.
FILE: Minister Thembi Simelane. Picture: @GovernmentZA/X
Africa Melane interviews Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach, the Democratic Alliance (DA) Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development.
Listen below.
In response to recent reports suggesting that President Cyril Ramaphosa has been aware of the controversial VBS-linked loan received by Justice Minister Thembi Simelane since at least 2021, the DA is urging him to address this serious issue.
The party insists that it is time for the President to stop delaying, demonstrate full transparency, and clarify his decision to appoint a Minister with such a troubling background, as well as his unwillingness to take decisive action regarding her conduct.
Breytenbach argues that if Ramaphosa was aware of this issue from the outset, his current request for an explanation regarding information he already has raises significant concerns about his reluctance to take action against Simelane.
She further notes that this situation could have been entirely preventable.
"One has to wonder, if he was aware of it, why he would appoint her as the Minister of Justice?"
- Glynnis Breytenbach, Spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development – DA
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