ANC mulling over Simelane’s explanation on VBS saga

By Akani Nkuna

African National Congress secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has confirmed the party is studying Justice Minister Thembi Simelane’s explanation on her involvement in the VBS loan saga.

Mbalula told Inside Politics on Monday that following widespread reports of the minister’s loan saga, she had indeed approached his office to offer her explanation.

“This is a report that explains to the organisation that deployed her as to what happened [with regards to the loan saga]; so that’s the report. It is a routine that happens all the time to all deployees and Thembi is not an exception,” Mbalula said.

Mbalula said the minister’s explanation would be discussed by the party’s national officials this week after which its Integrity Commission would interrogate Simelane. Speaking to reporters on the sideline of the ANC’s national working committee meeting, Mbalula said that “in as far as how she is affected by the debacle in