Human Settlements Minister Thembi Simelane has dismissed allegations by the Democratic Alliance (DA) that she is under criminal investigation for corruption, stating that she has not been formally notified by law enforcement or Eskom regarding any probe.
The DA recently filed corruption charges against Simelane, accusing her of defrauding Eskom of more than R700,000 during her tenure at Vitrovian by allegedly submitting fraudulent bills. However, the minister has strongly denied the claims, questioning the basis of the investigation.
“I have never been informed by the police nor Eskom,” Simelane said in a statement. “When did Eskom run this investigation? Between 2019 and 2021? Who were they using? Lawyers? Was I called for an interview? No. Was I called by the Special Investigating Unit (SIU)? No. Have I been called by the police? No.”
Simelane challenged the DA’s decision to lay criminal charges despite reportedly having access to the same Eskom report she referenced. “What does the DA do, knowing that they have the very same report from Eskom? They go to a police station to report,” she said.
The minister maintained her innocence, stating that she was prepared to cooperate if officially approached by investigators. “I’m not worried. It’s okay, they’ve reported. Wait for the investigation. I have not yet been called even by SAPS for a greeting to say, ‘Good morning, we are here, we’re investigating.’ I’m still waiting for that, and I will cooperate.”
Neither the South African Police Service (SAPS) nor Eskom has publicly confirmed whether an investigation is underway. The DA has yet to respond to Simelane’s latest remarks.
As the controversy unfolds, political analysts suggest the allegations could escalate tensions between the DA and the ruling party, particularly ahead of next year’s elections. Meanwhile, Simelane remains steadfast, insisting that the claims are unfounded until proven otherwise.