Simelane defends herself against corruption claims related to Eskom

JOHANNESBURG - Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has once again defended herself against allegations of corruption, this time linked to her former role as a project director at Vitrovian a company that was contracted to Eskom at the time.

In a statement on Monday night, Simelane reacted to a News24 report alleging that during her tenure, the company inflated prices for work done at Kusile power station.

The latest claims add to existing scrutiny following her September 2024 appearance before Parliament’s justice committee over a loan she received to buy a coffee shop through a middleman linked to the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.

Tsekiso Machike, speaking on behalf of the minister, said: "Once again, I hasten to correct the misconception that the position of project director would have in any way allowed me to enjoy intimate knowledge of the company’s financial transactions with Eskom or any client of the company. This assertion is simply false and is bordering on gutter journalism."