Mbalula says yet to receive integrity report on Simelane

Mbalula addressed the media on various topics at the ANC’s Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg on Friday.

This week, President Cyril Ramaphosa removed Thembi Simelane from the justice portfolio and redeployed her to Human Settlements.

Simelane is under scrutiny over revelations that she received a loan from a VBS-linked financial services provider while she was the mayor of Polokwane in 2016.

She has denied benefiting from the looting of VBS and said she was not involved in appointing Gundo Wealth Solutions.

Mbalula said the party’s step-aside rule only kicks in once a member has been formally charged. 

"The ANC is guided by its principles of integrity and ethical leadership. While the integrity committee addresses this matter internally, state investigations are continuing independently. The ANC does not prejudge the outcome of these processes, but we remain resolute in our principle of stepping aside when charged.

"As a demonstration of accountability, the ANC respects the constitutional prerogative of the president when it comes to cabinet appointments.

“We, however, note the heavy strain and impact of this matter on the organisational brand and image and the voices of civil society for her to step aside pending a full inquiry and other legal processes and independent bodies.

"We believe and trust in the ability of the independent bodies to discharge their mandate and responsibilities. At the present moment, the minister is not charged and has not been found guilty by any of the institutions.”

-Spaza shops-

Mbalula reiterated the ANC’s stance on the ownership of spaza shops, saying locals should be given preference. 

More 400 spaza shops have been closed since January for failing to comply with safety and health regulations in Gauteng.

The issue of spaza shops has been in the headlines following the deaths of several children in the province from foodborne illnesses believed to be linked to contaminated food sold at local spaza shops.

He said the government must prioritise ownership of spaza shops to locals.

"We have mandated our government going forward, as part of this campaign of the spaza shops, that we must preserve businesses like spaza shops for locals, meaning only for South Africans, and government must explore, in terms of the law of the country, that this is implemented within a reasonable space of time.

"Spaza shops, small businesses, and all of that, we believe, and we affirm that they must be preserved only for South Africans. We are aware, as we live in communities, that spaza shop businesses have been affected, particularly by an influx of foreign nationals, who, in the majority, have overtaken the locals because they've got an unlimited supply of goods, which are cheaper than the locals. Now we've got evidence that these goods that are cheaper, purported to be cheap, are not just cheap, but they are fake goods, and they are poisonous, and they have expired.”

-Janusz Walus-

Mbalula said the deporting of Chris Hani’s killer, Janusz Walus, back to Poland without a full confession, remained an injustice.

The decision to deport the Polish immigrant back to his homeland was announced on Friday. He was convicted of the assassination of former SACP Secretary-General Chris Hani.

Walus shot and killed Hani in April 1993.

"Today, the matter of our leader Janusz Walus will be released from prison if not released already. Taking with him to his homeland the truth of the assassination of our leader, Comrade Martin Thembisile Chris Hani. We are reminded of the immense loss inflicted on our movement and our nation,” Mbalula said

"Janusz Walus deprived South Africa of one of its greatest leaders and his release without a full confession of his actions and conspiracies remains an injustice, the heavy blow that inflicted on the nation is palpably fresh considering its painful effect on Comrade Hani's family.”

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