Simelane accuses DA of shielding man suspected of murdering her sister
Simelane said the DA's criminal complaint against her had not resulted in any charges, and the call for her to be fired is part of attempts to detract from the good work she's doing.
ALSO READ: Simelane lashes out at detractors, says she's been tried in court of public opinion
The former justice minister found herself in the DA's crosshairs in 2024, following investigative media revelations that linked her to the siphoning of funds from the now-defunct VBS bank.
At a media briefing ahead of delivering the budget for the Department of Human Settlements, Simelane said that to reject the budget would be to delay even further the provision of decent homes for the millions of people living in the country's 475 informal settlements.
In response to corruption allegations against her, Simelane said she won't shirk accountability, but the DA is jumping the gun.
'Now, if an investigation is being done, and you reported the case, but you can't wait for the investigation to be concluded, you now want other things before the investigation. I fear I'm going to disappear, honestly.'
Simelane alleged that a former DA representative was involved in her sister's disappearance and death in the 1980s.
'In 2016, when I managed to file charges against him, it was only then that the DA suspended him. Even on my calls to the DA to get a statement of murder against my sister, they didn't. In 2019, three years later, he died.'
Simelane also slammed the DA's governance in the Western Cape, saying it had returned R200 million in unspent funds meant for housing.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
South Africa's housing crisis deepens as R34 billion budget faces backlash over corruption and inefficiency
DA and EFF slam Simelane's budget, raising concerns over a VBS-linked loan, stalled projects, and inflation's impact on delivery amid a 2.3 million-unit housing backlog. Political parties have rejected the Department of Human Settlements' R34 billion budget for the 2025/26 financial year, accusing the department of mismanagement, inefficiency, and making promises that will not materialise. Democratic Alliance (DA) Member of Parliament Luyuyo Mphiti, quoting President Cyril Ramaphosa, warned that unchecked corruption threatens to erode faith in democracy itself. 'If corruption is not arrested, the greatest damage will not be in the funds stolen, the jobs lost, or the services not delivered. The greatest damage will be in the belief in democracy itself.' Mphiti pointed to what he called a 'catastrophic collapse' within the department, citing ongoing investigations, suspensions, and resignations of senior officials across major housing entities such as the National Home Builders Registration Council (NHBRC), the Social Housing Regulatory Authority (SHRA), and the National Housing Finance Corporation (NHFC). He criticised the appointment of Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane, referring to corruption allegations and an active SAPS investigation. This comes after revelations that, during her tenure as mayor at the Polokwane Municipality, Simelane took a loan from Gundo Wealth Solutions through the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank to purchase a coffee shop in Sandton. 'Minister Simelane cannot be trusted with a single rand, let alone R33 billion of this budget,' Mphiti said. 'The dysfunction is impeding the delivery of affordable housing in our country.' Simelane tabled the Department of Human Settlements' 2025/26 Budget Vote under the theme 'Leveraging technologies for resilient, sustainable human settlements,' pledging to deliver over 41,944 housing units, 32,250 serviced sites, 3,000 social housing units, and eradicate 8,047 mud houses.
eNCA
2 hours ago
- eNCA
Simalane defends budget amid calls for removal
PRETORIA - Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane is defending her department's latest R34-billion budget, which she tabled in Parliament on Wednesday, amid growing criticism from opposition parties some of whom are calling for her removal. The minister has promised decisive action to tackle the country's housing backlogs and to upgrade informal settlements. Simelane says one of their key priorities is to address project stoppages, which have slowed progress. She acknowledged that growth in delivery has been inactive, but insists the department is committed to turning the tide.
IOL News
2 hours ago
- IOL News
I availed myself for accountability, Simelane tells DA in heated debate
Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane reminded the DA of its public representative, who was allegedly accused of murdering her sister, whom the party never suspended nor issued a press statement. Image: Hunk Kruger / Independent Newspapers HUMAN Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has described the DA's personal attack on her as being tried in public without being charged. Simelane said she was not amazed by what was happening to her because a person stands in front of a judge when charged with an offence. 'You are trying me in public because you think this is the only way to degrade the work I am doing,' she said. Simelane responded to the DA's attacks during the budget vote for her department on Wednesday. The DA, which had its former deputy minister, Andrew Whitfield, dismissed for taking a trip to the US without authorisation from President Cyril Ramaphosa, has vowed not to vote in support of the budgets of departments left by compromised ministers and deputy ministers. On Tuesday, the DA claimed that Simelane was under investigation after it laid charges with the SAPS for the alleged theft of more than R700,000 by fraudulently billing Eskom when she worked for a company named Vitrovian. Speaking during the debate, DA MP Luyolo Mphithi said the Human Settlements Department was saddled with a catastrophic collapse of governance across its several housing entities. Mphithi recalled that Simelane was previously accused of receiving a R575,600 'loan' from Gundo Wealth Solutions, linked to the unlawful investments of municipal funds into the VBS Mutual Bank, while she was the mayor of the Polokwane Municipality. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ 'It seems that the president does not at all take issue with the fact that a person accused of corruption sits in his Cabinet and will have to look after the budget with R30 billion set aside for South Africans,' he said. Mphithi also said that although the department's budget and department have many challenges, it would under normal circumstances be supported. 'However, we are faced with a minister who has corruption allegations against her and has not been accountable to the South African public, which makes it difficult for us to support this budget,' he said. Mphithi's colleague, Conrad Poole said that when Simelane was accused, she should be in the dock before a judge and not be an MP entrusted with R33 billion of taxpayer funds. 'I certainly would not bet any money on this minister doing anything to clean up shop. If the allegations of corruption are true, she would rather buy coffee shops. She may, in fact, be planning to convert the Department of Human Settlements for her grand relaunch of her 'coffee' enterprise. In response, Simelane reminded the DA of its public representative, whom she identified as Msebenzi Radebe, who was allegedly accused of the murder of her sister, whom the party never charged. 'In 2016, when I managed to place charges against him, it was only then that the DA suspended him. Even on my calls to get the DA to get a statement of murder against my sister, they did not. In 2019, three years later, she died. 'So good, you can find the nearest door to the police station. Where it matters, you don't even know where the door is,' she said. Simelane insisted that the investigation was about accountability. 'I availed myself of accountability. Now the investigation is done, and you reported the case, but you now can't wait for the investigation to conclude. I fear I am going to disappear after this. I mean really,' she said. ANC MP Albert Seabi pleaded with Simelane not to be distracted by the amount of noise, no matter how loud it may be, including an allegation not tested in court. 'You have our support minister because of your strong work ethic, your dedication, your diligence, and your consistent commitment to transparency, accountability, and transforming the sector,' said Seabi. EFF MP Babalwa Mathulelwa said they rejected the budget not because 'we are extortionists like the DA'. Mathulelwa said the rejection of the budget was based on the empty promise wrapped in inflation and false hopes. ActionSA's Malebo Patricia Kobe said: 'The budget fails to honour the dignity of millions still waiting for a place to call home.' Rise Mzansi's Makashule Gana said: 'I will debate the budget and resist the temptation to debate or play the woman'. Cape Times
