Justice & Constitutional Development Minister Thembi Simelane has assured Parliament that she has no authority to interfere in any VBS-related prosecutions, according to EWN.

Simelane is still responding to MPs regarding her loan from a VBS Bank fixer weeks after she appeared before the Justice Committee.

Since that briefing, she has faced more parliamentary questions.

In a written parliamentary question, DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach asked Simelane if there was any conflict of interest on her part, as the political head of the NPA.

In a written reply released yesterday, Simelane said that as a Cabinet member responsible for the administration of justice, she had ‘no authority to interfere with decisions to prosecute or not’.

‘I am legally empowered to issue policy directives, which must be observed in the prosecution process,’ said Simelane.

She said that as an ‘adherent of the respect to the rule of law’, she would only act in accordance with the powers vested in her by the Constitution and the law.

President Cyril Ramaphosa has thus far failed to take any action against Simelane for her VBS links and perceived conflict.

The Minister's latest response comes after Ramaphosa confirmed that Simelane had submitted documents to him regarding the loan agreement and had asked for time and space.  

On Wednesday, Simelane also appeared before the ANC's Integrity Commission to answer questions about the questionable VBS linked loan from Gundo Wealth Solutions when she was Polokwane mayor.

Full EWN report

See also full report in The Star