Minister Thembi Simelane has rejected corruption claims tied to her past position at Vitrovian, dismissing allegations related to Eskom contracts. Additionally, the trial of Joshlin Smith progresses as the admissibility of confessions obtained under questionable circumstances is debated. Lastly, three men were killed in a suspected taxi attack in Johannesburg, prompting investigations by the Gauteng police.
In a recent development, Minister Thembi Simelane has categorically denied allegations of corruption stemming from her previous role at Vitrovian, a company contracted by Eskom. According to reports from EWN, claims arose that the company inflated prices for work done at the Kusile power station during her tenure. These allegations follow scrutiny regarding a loan she reportedly received through a middleman associated with the defunct VBS Mutual Bank. Simelane’s spokesperson, Tsekiso Machike, has dismissed the claims as misleading and characterized the report as “gutter journalism.”
In another legal matter, Captain Wesley Lombard, the investigating officer in the Joshlin Smith case, is set to return to the stand in a trial-within-a-trial which will determine the admissibility of confession statements allegedly extracted under duress. Lombard had previously testified that co-accused Stevano van Rhyn emerged as a suspect following discrepancies in his statement compared to that of Jacquain Appollis. Van Rhyn’s defense attorney, Nobahle Mkabayi, contested the justification for her client’s detention, asserting that earlier investigators had cleared him. Lombard, however, reiterated that Van Rhyn’s claim of not encountering Smith on the day of her disappearance conflicted with other evidence, leading to further cross-examination.
In a tragic incident, three individuals were fatally shot in a suspected taxi-related attack in Vlakfontein, a suburb south of Johannesburg. Gauteng police are actively investigating the situation, having discovered the victims with gunshot wounds inside a Toyota Quantum. The motive for the attack remains unclear, and authorities have appealed to the public for any information that may aid the investigation, encouraging individuals to contact the Crime Stop Line or use the MySAPS App to provide anonymous tips.
In summary, Minister Thembi Simelane has refuted corruption allegations linked to her past role at Vitrovian, emphasizing the misleading nature of the claims. Concurrently, the trial surrounding the Joshlin Smith case continues with significant scrutiny regarding the validity of confession statements. Meanwhile, a tragic taxi-related shooting in Johannesburg underscores ongoing violence related to the transportation sector, prompting police investigations and public calls for information.
Original Source: allafrica.com
