South Africa’s president Cyril Ramaphosa asked the country’s justice minister to explain graft allegations linking her to a 130 million U.S. dollar bank scandal, amid mounting calls for her to step down.
“President Cyril Ramaphosa has noted with concern media reports containing allegations of corruption” against Thembi Simelane, the president’s office said in a statement.
Local media have reported that Simelane allegedly received an improper loan of over 500,000 rand ($28,000) during her tenure as the mayor of Polokwane, the capital city of the northeastern Limpopo province, between 2014 and 2021.
Reports linked the payment to a fraud scandal at VBS Mutual Bank, which collapsed in 2018, with authorities blaming looting by executives and politicians.
“The president has requested a detailed report and briefing from the minister on the matter,” the presidency said.
