President Cyril Ramaphosa says the matter of embattled Justice Minister Thembi Simelane will receive his attention, and he appealed for time to deal with the case.

On Thursday night, IOL attended a press briefing in Beijing, the capital of China, where a chuffed Ramaphosa bade farewell to South African and international journalists at the conclusion of his “most successful” two-pronged visit to China.

Ramaphosa was this week on his second State Visit to China, at the invitation of President Xi Jinping, before Ramaphosa also led his Pretoria delegation which attended the successful Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit which drew around 50 African heads of State to Beijing.

Asked about the allegations swirling around his justice minister, Ramaphosa responded: “Let us start with the issue of the minister of justice … that is a matter we are dealing with. As president, I do need space and the time to be able to deal with this matter.

President Cyril Ramaphosa speaking to journalists in Beijing. Picture: Jonisayi Maromo / IOL

“Certainly, the matter is being dealt with, as I indicated some few days ago. It is not a matter that is going to be swept under the carpet, it is being dealt with. Be rest assured, the matter is being addressed,” he said.

Calls have been growing in South Africa for Simelane to fall on her sword, following revelations of her alleged involvement in the grand looting of the now defunct VBS Mutual Bank.

According to media reports, during her tenure as Polokwane Executive Mayor in Limpopo, Simelane pocketed a “loan” of R575,600, from Gundo Wealth Solutions, which was allegedly used to buy a coffee shop in Sandton. The allegedly corrupt investment brokerage was owned by Ralliom Razwinane, who is currently on trial for fraud, corruption, and money laundering related to his role in facilitating connections and dodgy investments between several municipalities and the VBS Mutual Bank.

Justice Minister Thembi Simelane. File Picture

IOL reported last week that the ANC Veterans League had urged Ramaphosa to publicly disclose the outcomes of his meeting with the accused Simelane.

ANC head of elections and Chief Whip, Mdumiseni Ntuli said “the ministers are accountable to Parliament through the portfolio committee and directly to Parliament”.

“All of us should be satisfied with the fact that the president (Ramaphosa) has had a meeting with the minister and that the discussion, at an appropriate time, would be shared by the president, and equally with the people of South Africa,” Ntuli said.

He emphasised that Ramaphosa’s decision to meet with Simelane demonstrated the commitment to addressing concerns and ensuring transparency.

Several parties, including ActionSA, the Democratic Alliance (DA), Congress of the People (COPE) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) are gunning for the removal or resignation of Simelane amid the long-running VBS scandal.

IOL