Simelane ‘categorically’ denies latest corruption claims

News24 earlier reported that Eskom contractor Vitrovian paid Simelane some R700,000 by overbilling the power utility for work done by non-existent workers.

Simelane is accused of earning more than R700,000 while working for Vitrovian, which was hired to suppress protests at the Kusile power plant.

According to News24, she joined Vitrovian as a project director in October 2011 until March 2012.

Vitrovian allegedly inflated its charges, overbilling the power utility for work performed by non-existent employees.

Simelane says the claims by News24  are a desperate attempt to draw her name in controversies.

"The office of the minister can confirm that the minister was an employee of Vitrovian in 2011 as a project director for seven months and was remunerated for the work she performed for the period she stayed at Vitrovian until she left,” Simelane’s office said in a statement on Monday. 

"Notably, the minister can categorically state that she was not responsible for the contractual obligations of Vitrovian, and it is malicious for News24 to paint a picture that she might have been involved in any alleged activities or operations of price inflations as a mere employee of the company.

"Once again, I hasten to correct the misconception that the position of project director would have in anyway allowed me to enjoy intimate knowledge of the company’s financial transactions with Eskom or any client of the company.” 

The former justice committee has also been in hot water over a loan she received to buy a coffee shop through a middleman linked to the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.

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