ANC Luthuli House boss Fikile Mbalula says he will commission a forensic report to establish just how much the party received from the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.
And because fresh allegations of millions being channelled to the ANC cannot be proven, the ANC has elected to do its own probe.
This despite explanation from one of the party heavyweights mentioned in the latest VBS files as the initiator of the request for the alleged “donation”.
ANC conducting its own probe
Mbalula was in conversation with Sunday World Engage in the aftermath of explosive claims by VBS kingpin Tshifhiwa Matodzi.
The former chair of VBS, Matodzi, deposed to a sworn statement to law enforcement as part of his plea deal. In it he fingered the ANC for benefiting from the loot.
According to his statement, the ANC received R2-million following a request from its then Treasurer General, Zweli Mkhize. However, the “donation” was processed to the bank account of one Joseph Nkadimeng.
Mbalula said the party cannot say with certainty that the money reached the ANC bank account.
This despite an unsolicited explanation from Mkhize to Mbalula and ANC treasurer-general Gwen Ramokgopa.
“I can assure you that we are going to investigate that (the whereabouts of the donation) through a forensic,” said a stern Mbalula.
“Comrade Zweli (Mkhzie) has given us a full account of that donation in terms of what happened to me and the TG. We have no reason to doubt his bona fides.
ANC received R2m from VBS after Zweli Mkhize’s request
“The ANC took a decision a long time ago that if there were donations to the ANC, we must refund them. So we need to also establish how much was refunded to VBS. Because everything that happened there was corruption.”
Parties sometimes unwittingly receive donation from rogue sources
Mbalula said this decision was based on the appreciation that a strategic party like the ANC may sometimes receive donations from rogue sources.
To this end, the noble thing to do would be to pay back the money. Do this once you come to the realisation that your donor is questionable.
“Once you discover that the money you got came from the wrong sources who are corrupt, you must return that money. Especially as a party, we need to check on that. These are the things this week the officials have mandated me and TG to do. And that is what we will do.”
Mbalula said the forensic investigation was not meant to cast doubt on Mkhize’s explanation. The former Treasurer General had provided it voluntarily.
However, the ANC was doing due diligence for its own sake. To also avoid being blindsided if the whole VSB saga goes pear-shaped.
“Comrade Zweli has given us an explanation of what happened. But I leave it until a conclusive report is received on the matter.
“When someone voluntarily explains themselves, you do not deal with them with preconceived ideas. The ideas that indeed what is said by Matodzi, which is one side, could be the truth.”
Mbalula questions Matodzi’s affidavit
Mbalula said Matodzi’s affidavit was just his version, which could be blatant fabrications. He cautioned against people believing things not tested in a court of law.
“That affidavit does not have standing because it has not been tested in a court of law. We therefore cannot subject people into a kangaroo court (by believing everything Matodzi is saying). The facts are still to be proven.”
This was why the ANC has opted to do its own investigation on the matter.
“Did the money reach the coffers of the ANC? If not, where did it go? And then what is the account of the people who are mentioned? That is what the ANC will do for its own sake.”
The full interview with Mbalula will be aired on the Sunday World News YouTube channel.
Read more:
National Treasury welcomes VBS bank chairman’s conviction
Ex-Treasury boss Mogajane denies receiving R1m VBS bribe
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