ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said if the party had received money illegally from VBS Mutual Bank it would be returned. (Photo: Per Anders Pettersson/Getty Images)
aNC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula said if the party had received money illegally from VBS Mutual Bank it would be returned.
“The ANC says if it received funds from VBS, including the allegation that they were given to Zweli Mkhize, then that money must be returned,” Mbalula told a press conference on Thursday ahead of a three-day meeting of the party's national executive committee (NEC) which will consider issues including the party's disastrous result in the May 29 general election.
The NEC meeting will be followed by an expanded lekgotla involving all ANC contingents, alliance partners and the federation.
Mkhize is allegedly linked to a leaked affidavit by former VBS chairman Tshifiwa Matodzi, which detailed the chain of events that ultimately led to the bank's collapse.
Matoji agreed to a plea bargain with the National Prosecuting Authority and was sentenced to 15 years in prison.
According to the affidavit, in 2016, Mkhize, who was the ANC's financial general-in-charge, requested R2 million from VBS to pay a supplier to the party.
“The meeting was held at Mampilo Conference Room, Rivonia. Attendees included Dr Mkhize; [former chief executive of VBS] “At the meeting were Andile Ramavunga, myself and another member whom I cannot recall (I think it was a man called Nkadimeng),” it read.
“The meeting was probably arranged by Joseph Nkadimeng. The purpose of the meeting was for Dr Mkhize to assist VBS in gaining access to larger facilities at PIC.
“I recall that R2 million was paid at the request of Dr Mkhize via Joseph Nkadimeng or Tsheke Nkadimeng. The request was to pay an ANC supplier. There was no further contract with Dr Mkhize.”
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, Mbalula said Mkhize had submitted a report on the matter to the ANC.
“If the money is going into the national treasury, then there is a decision being made in the ANC to say, 'let's give the VBS money back',” he said.
Mbalula also defended ANC Limpopo deputy chairperson Florence Radzilani, saying she was implicated in the VBS scandal but the party's removal rules did not apply to her as she had not been arrested.
In his affidavit, Matodzi said Radzilani illegally received R300 000 from VBS in return for securing illegal investments from Vhembe District Municipality. Matodzi said Radzilani asked for a further R1.5 million as “Christmas money” because the R300 000 was not enough.
Mbalula said the party does not act on allegations but only against those who have been criminally charged.
“We declare that those affected by VBS should stand down, all those arrested today — Danny Msiza; [former ANC Youth League leader Kabelo] “Mr Matsepe and all of them have stepped aside,” he said.
“The reason Florence won't step down is[she has] No one has been arrested for VBS. All reports of VBS go to the Special NEC and we deal with them.”
Mbalula said Radzilani had previously denied any involvement in the VBS matter.
He also criticised former president Jacob Zuma's Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party.
He said it was formed to promote a friend.
This comes after South African Communist Party secretary-general Solly Mapaila accused alliance partner the ANC of betraying them by working with the Democratic Alliance rather than the MK Party or the Economic Freedom Fighters in a government of national unity.
“You say we have to work with Zuma, but what is Zuma's claim? When he gets into parliament he replaces those who were working for Zuma's party. [Jabulani] Replace with Kumalo [John] “Holofe. These are people who have never gone door to door,” Mbalula said.
“This is a group of Zuma's friends. This so-called MK party is friends of Jacob Zuma. He brought Hlophe back and made him leader of parliament. [Hlophe] It's beyond depth.
“he [Zuma] “We wanted to save the ANC,” he said, but [Zuma] “I have not come to the ANC. Now I have this percentage. [14% of votes] And how do you want to save the ANC at this rate?'” Mbalula added.
