Simelane brushes off VBS questions as MPs continue to apply pressure

CAPE TOWN - Justice Minister Thembi Simelane has brushed off questions from Members of Parliament (MP) on her questionable loan from a company linked to the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank. 

Simelane was taking oral questions in the National Assembly on Wednesday where she was again grilled about the loan from a VBS fixer, Gundo Wealth Solutions, while she was the mayor of Polokwane. 

MPs questioned Simelane on how she’s still minister despite the allegations.

Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Glynnis Breytenbach said Simelane was conflicted and must account for why she's still minister. 

READ: ActionSA opens criminal charges against Simelane over VBS loan saga

"VBS was not registered nor authorised to give loans and you have an indisputable conflict of interest. So my question mister is this. Why are you still here?" asked Breytenbach.

After offering a one-liner on the original question, Simelane also offered a short response to Breytenbach's supplementary question. 

President Cyril Ramaphosa told Parliament last month that he's still applying his mind on Simelane's future, after receiving written submissions from the minister.