Herman Mashaba's ActionSA has called for President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Justice Minister Thembi Simelane after they opened criminal charges against her. The party opened the case at the Polokwane police station today over the R575,600 VBS linked loan.

SUSPECTED FRAUD

Simelane faces criminal charges for alleged violations of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act, as well as the common law crime of forgery. The party's parliamentary leader, Athol Trollip, said they opened the case following revelations that the loan agreement that Simelane didn't provide to Parliament's Justice Portfolio Committee during her appearance may have been forged. "The documents appear to have been created after the agreement was concluded in an attempt to legitimise an allegedly unlawful transaction," Trollip said.

ACCOUNTABILITY 

Trollip said the party has taken this step following numerous appeals for accountability to the President, the Speaker of Parliament and the Public Protector. "Unfortunately, all of them appear unwilling to hold the Minister accountable for what are egregious allegations with serious implications for the vital role she plays in maintaining the integrity of our justice system," he said. Trollip said given the weight of the allegations surrounding the potentially corrupt transactions, the serious implications If the Minister is found guilty, and the potential impact on her continued leadership of South Africa's justice system, ActionSA believes that accountability simply cannot be delayed any further. "Therefore, ActionSA again reiterates our call for the President to suspend the Minister pending the outcome of any ongoing investigations or alternatively, the Minister herself should do the honourable thing and step aside if she has any respect for the office she holds, as her continued tenure as Head of the Justice System is simply untenable," he added.