Minister Simelane Denies Eskom Corruption Claims Amid Ongoing Legal Proceedings

Minister Thembi Simelane rejects corruption claims tied to her past role at Vitrovian related to Eskom. An ongoing trial concerns confession statements obtained under alleged duress. Additionally, three men were murdered in a taxi-related shooting in Johannesburg, prompting police investigations.

The South African Human Settlements Minister, Thembi Simelane, has refuted recent allegations of corruption concerning her previous role as a project director at Vitrovian, a company that had a contract with Eskom. According to a report from News24, it is claimed that Vitrovian inflated prices for work conducted at the Kusile power station during her tenure. These allegations follow prior scrutiny regarding a loan associated with the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank that she allegedly received through an intermediary.

In response to these claims, Simelane’s spokesperson, Tsekiso Machike, characterized the allegations as misleading. Machike emphasized that Simelane’s previous position did not involve knowledge of the company’s financial dealings, describing the publication of the allegations as “gutter journalism.”

In a separate legal matter, Captain Wesley Lombard, the investigating officer in the Joshlin Smith case, is set to resume his testimony in a trial-within-a-trial. This proceeding aims to ascertain the admissibility of confession statements from the accused, which are alleged to have been obtained through torture. Lombard has indicated that inconsistencies in co-accused Stevano van Rhyn’s statements led to suspicions against him.

Van Rhyn’s defense attorney, Nobahle Mkabayi, has contested Lombard’s decision to detain her client, arguing previous investigators had cleared him. Despite this, Lombard maintained that Van Rhyn’s statements contradicted additional evidence, necessitating continued cross-examination.

In a concerning incident in Johannesburg, three men were shot dead in a suspected taxi-related attack in Vlakfontein. The Gauteng police have commenced an investigation into the murders after the victims were discovered in a Toyota Quantum with gunshot wounds. The motive for the attack remains undetermined, and law enforcement urges anyone with pertinent information to reach out via the Crime Stop Line or the MySAPS App.

In summary, Minister Simelane has strongly denied corruption allegations regarding her tenure at Vitrovian, labeling the reports as misleading. Meanwhile, the ongoing trial concerning Joshlin Smith hears testimony on controversial evidence, indicating complexities in the case. Additionally, the violent taxi-related shooting in Johannesburg underscores rising concerns about public safety in the area. Collectively, these events illustrate the multifaceted challenges facing South Africa.

Original Source: allafrica.com