South Africa’s parliamentary committee on ethics has opened an investigation into deputy health minister Sibongiseni Dhlomo after receiving a sexual assault complaint against him.

The investigation follows an exposé by the South African newspaper The Sunday Times, in which a male parliamentary staffer alleged that Dr Dhlomo sexually assaulted him.

The staffer claimed that Dr Dhlomo made sexual advances against him after inviting him to his house in Cape Town.

Dr Dhlomo has denied the accusations. The minister claimed he had kicked the staffer out of his home for taking a banana out of his fruit basket without asking, and that the staffer is therefore disgruntled.

Parliament on Monday said in a statement that it could not disclose details of the complaint but a subcommittee will be formed to hear the allegation in November.

Western Cape police have also opened investigations into the report.