The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Wednesday laid corruption charges against Minister of Human Settlements Thembi Simelane, and accused President Cyril Ramaphosa of protecting African National Congress (ANC) Ministers implicated in corruption.

Simelane is alleged to have stolen more than R700 000 by fraudulently billing State-owned Eskom when she worked for consulting firm Vitrovian.

Eskom is reported to have used Vitrovian to suppress protests at the Kusile power plant during its construction.

DA spokesperson on Justice and Constitutional Development Advocate Glynnis Breytenbach said Vitrovians’ charges to Eskom appeared ridiculously inflated, and Eskom was also allegedly invoiced by Vitrovian for work done by employees that did not exist.

She noted that Simelane’s signature appeared on the first of these invoices, directly implicating her in the scandal.

Breytenbach highlighted that the allegations were in addition to Simelane’s alleged involvement and subsequent implication in the looting of VBS Bank.

“The President has repeatedly refused to disclose the content of Simelane’s report to him on these allegations, despite several requests by the DA that he does so. The President’s continued protection of Simelane raises serious questions on his ability and willingness to root out corruption at the highest level,” she said.

Breytenbach accused Ramaphosa of allowing a culture of impunity for ANC Ministers accused of corruption, to grow.

She warned that if he failed to remove Simelane from her post, he would become complicit in the corruption he said he was intent on fighting.

The DA said it was determined to purge government of corrupt officials, “with or without” Ramaphosa’s help, saying it eagerly await the outcome of the investigation against Simelane.