By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Photo Credit:Mduduzi Ndzingi.
Former chairman of VBS Mutual Bank Tshifhiwa Matodzi has implicated Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu for allegedly benefing from the now-defunct VBS mutual bank.
Malema and Shivambu were allegedly paid off not to use the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) political muscle against VBS Mutual Bank.
In the leaked affidavit, Matodzi detailed how he met Malema and Shivambu at a penthouse in Sandton in 2017 to discuss the payments.
This week, Matodzi was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the looting at VBS bank after pleading guilty to 33 counts of fraud, theft, money laundering, corruption and racketeering.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) condemned the leak of the affidavit to the media.
NPA spokesperson Mthunzi Mhaga said the leak undermines the administration of justice and places members of the investigating team in danger.
“The leaking of confidential documents in high-profile and complex corruption cases like VBS compromises the hard work of investigators and prosecutors.
“This work involves a multipronged and long-term prosecution-guided strategy requiring the utmost discretion and confidentiality, including in the handling of documents and cooperation agreements with accused persons,” said Mhaga.
He added that the NPA’s leadership had instructed the Director of Public Prosecutions in Pretoria to do a thorough investigation into the matter.
The Hawks’ investigation started in 2018 following the Great Bank Heist report by advocate Terry Motau, which lifted the lid on the looting of the bank to the tune of R2bn.
At the time, the report implicated several high-profile politicians and relatives of politicians. Among them was the ANC provincial treasurer in Limpopo Danny Msiza, and deputy provincial chair Florence Radzilani, who was also executive mayor of Vhembe municipality. The duo were suspended by the ANC.
Another person who was implicated in the explosive report was Brian Shivambu, brother to EFF deputy president Floyd Shivambu.
Further investigations following the Motau report showed Shivambu and Malema allegedly benefited indirectly from the loot that was for Brian’s benefit – in the form of companies linked to Floyd and Malema that did “business” with Brian’s company Sgameka.
At one of the meetings, writes Matodzi, “myself, Floyd and Brian agreed to regularise the R5-million plus R1-million monthly donations. It was agreed amongst us that we draft a contract between Vele and Sgameka for consulting work in petroleum and storage facilities. The said contract which we backdated by agreement, was drafted by the Shivambu brothers”.
Hawks head Godfrey Lebeya said Matodzi shared crucial information. “Anyone regardless of their political affiliation,who have had their hands in the jar, they will be visited.
Lebeya said the investigation would be directed by money flows and no individual would be left untouched should the paper trail lead to them.
Meanwhile ActionSA’s Limpopo chairperson, Victor Mothemela, said the affidavit clearly shows that Malema and Shivambu were involved.
“Our request follows former Chairman of VBS Mutual Bank, Tshifhiwa Matodzi’s detailed affidavit, in which he directly implicates Shivambu and Malema in the looting of VBS through Sgameka Projects (PTY) LTD, a company registered under the name of Shivambu’s younger brother.
“It is clear that the hollow assertions made by EFF President Malema and EFF Deputy President Shivambu, claiming they were not involved in the theft of municipal and pensioner funds stored at VBS, are effectively refuted by Matodzi’s sworn confession.
“Matodzi’s unequivocal admission that the two EFF leaders were fully aware of the one-time R5 million and monthly R1 million payments to Sgameka Projects as bribes to maintain silence about former President Zuma’s infamous R8 million loan from VBS during a period of public scrutiny, clearly illustrates the potential shadiness, corruption, and unpatriotic and unethical character of these two EFF leaders,” he said.