Following the criminal charges it laid against Justice Minister Thembi Simelane on Tuesday, ActionSA revealed that it has received confirmation from the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) that charges of corruption and forgery are being investigated.

It has been alleged that while serving as the mayor of Polokwane in 2016, Simelane took a loan of R575 600 from Gundo Wealth Solutions, the company that brokered “unlawful” investments of R349-million into VBS Bank on behalf of the Polokwane municipality, amongst others.

“The latest revelations, which prompted ActionSA to lay criminal charges of forgery, suggest that in an effort to legitimise an allegedly unlawful transaction, the Minister attempted to use a backdated loan agreement, which appears to have been created ex post facto after the transaction had already been concluded,” said ActionSA parliamentary leader Athol Trollip.

ActionSA said it would ensure that accountability on the matter was enforced.

The Ministry of Justice, on behalf of Simelane, said it took note of ActionSA’s charges against Simelane and said the Minister would not respond to media queries as the matter was under police investigation.

“We further note the statement by the Minster that she will not be responding to media enquiries as the matter is now under police investigation, but this will not preclude us from pursuing this matter to finality,” Trollip said.