It has been three months since President Cyril Ramaphosa called on South Africans to give him space and time to deal with a scandal related to justice and constitutional development minister Thembi Simelane.
It came as no surprise for Ramaphosa to ask for time to apply his mind to the situation. He himself has admitted to being a leader who consults, often to the irritation of those around him, while some might argue, to his detriment.
Simelane, who holds a key ministry, was found wanting with her association with individuals connected to the VBS Mutual Bank scandal.
According to investigations by some of South Africa’s most esteemed journalists, Simelane received a loan from a company which benefited from the bank while she held a strategic position as mayor of Polokwane, a metro which had itself made substantial deposits with the bank.
While the country reacted with shock and demanded accountability, the president chose to ignore the allegations. It was only two weeks later, with politicians and civil society calling for her head, that he chose to respond. In a short statement on August 28, Ramaphosa said he had requested a “detailed report and briefing from the minister on the matter”.
One might look at this scandal as just another ANC minister accused of corruption, but the allegations against Simelane have much bigger consequences.
For one, Simelane oversees theNational Prosecuting Authority — a body charged with prosecuting those involved in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal, where hundreds of grannies and mothers lost their hard-earned money and pensions.
If Simelane is involved in corruption, it also places doubt on the government’s commitment to rid itself of this plague. It’s also a blemish on the new government of national unity (GNU), which has committed to hold the ANC to account.
The DA was among the parties which called for Simelane’s head, aware that this scandal was not only damaging to the ANC and Ramaphosa, but that the GNU stood in the firing line.
On October 22, the DA released a statement pressuring Ramaphosa to act. It cautioned the president against delaying the matter further, stating that every moment of delay weakens the justice system, undermines trust, and further damages the government’s credibility.
The integrity of our justice system and the credibility of this administration depend on it, the DA said.
“The DA has repeatedly stressed that Simelane’s continued role damages the credibility of the justice system. Every day without action further compromises the integrity of our legal institutions. The president’s silence mocks his supposed commitment to fighting corruption within the state”, the party said.
“The public deserves transparency. The president must stop stalling and take decisive action. While the NPA’s mandate to prosecute must be respected, it is unacceptable for Simelane to remain in her role due to the clear conflict of interest.”
With even his allies in the GNU calling him to act, Ramaphosa has retreated to his comfortable position to say and do nothing. This is not a unique occurrence. In 2020 Ramaphosa took his time to act against his spokesperson Khusela Diko after an investigation fingered her husband as having benefited from the Covid-19 corruption scandal. Though Diko was cleared of wrongdoing, Ramaphosa was found wanting on his speed to deal with the scandal.
It was not surprising that it took a heart-wrenching front page by the Sowetan for Ramaphosa to speak on actions the government would undertake to deal with the deaths of young children related to food from spaza shops. Only after this article , journalists started hearing murmurs Ramaphosa was expected to address the nation.
The president might think the Simelane matter will die down and South Africans will be too involved with the next scandal to care, but the reality is that this matter will not disappear.
Mr President, what are you planning to do with your minister? The nation awaits.
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