In 2016, Zweli Mkhize, the ANC treasurer-general at the time, allegedly requested R2-million from the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank to pay an ANC supplier.
Tshifhiwa Matodzi, the former chair of the VBS Mutual Bank board, wrote an affidavit containing this information.
Matodzi’s affidavit was compiled as part of a plea agreement he entered into with the National Prosecuting Authority with regards to the charges he was facing in connection with the collapse of the VBS Mutual Bank.
On Wednesday, Matodzi, 46, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment after pleading guilty to all charges he was facing with regards to the VBS Mutual Bank heist.
Accessing PIC facilities
In his affidavit, Matodzi said that in 2016, VBS arranged a meeting with Mkhize to assist the bank in accessing facilities at the Public Investment Corporation (PIC).
Matodzi said the meeting took place in Rivonia, Johannesburg.
“Around 2016, a meeting was arranged to meet with Dr Zweli Mkhize, who at the time was the treasurer-general of the ANC,” says Matodzi in the affidavit.
“The meeting was held at the Mmampilo boardroom in Rivonia. Present were Dr Mkhize, [former CEO of VBS] Andile Ramavhunga, myself, and I think there were other members in the meeting who I cannot recall [I think a guy by the name of Nkadimeng].
“The meeting was probably arranged by Joseph Nkadimeng. The purpose of the meeting was for Dr Mkhize to assist VBS with accessing much larger facilities at PIC.
“I recall an amount of R2-million that was paid via Joseph Nkadimeng or Tseke Nkadimeng, which was requested by Dr Mkhize.
“The request was that the payment be for an ANC supplier. No further engagements were held with Dr Mkhize.”
This week, the Pretoria High Court sentenced Matodzi to a 15-year jail sentence for each of the 33 counts of corruption, theft, fraud, money-laundering, and a pattern of racketeering activities in contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act in relation to the VBS Mutual Bank collapse scandal.
The court also declared that Matodzi was unfit to possess a firearm.
SACP implicated
According to Matodzi, the SACP allegedly asked VBS to pay an R3-million conference bill that it owed at the Birchwood Hotel in Kempton Park in July 2017 through its then-Gauteng chairperson, Jacob Mamabolo.
“After the news that VBS had granted the former president Zuma the loan, SACP published a statement through its Gauteng chairperson at the time, Mr Jacob Mamabolo.
“The story was alleging that VBS was doing business with Gupta-linked entities called Vardospan and Habib Bank.
“I then instructed Gogoro Communications to obtain contacts for the relevant SACP individuals.
“A meeting was arranged by Gogoro for a meeting with the SACP Gauteng team headed by Mr Jacob Mamabolo and the VBS team led by Andile. I did not attend this meeting.
“Another meeting was later arranged between Mamabolo and me at a boutique hotel in Groenkloof, Pretoria.
“The meeting was a follow-up on the meeting held with Andile’s team and how the relationship between VBS and SACP could be improved. Another meeting was held between myself and Mamabolo at the Palazzo Hotel in Fourways.
“At this meeting, discussions were general in nature, and Mamabolo wanted to know more about VBS and how members of SACP could be approached to bank with VBS.
“Around July 2017, I received a call from Mamabolo seeking assistance with the settlement of the SACP conference bill of R3-million at the Birchwood Hotel in Kempton Park.
“On July 6, 2017, the said amount was paid directly to Birchwood Hotel from MML Food Services. There were no further requests received from the SACP regarding payments.”
