Cape Town — African National Congress (ANC) Secretary-General, Fikile Mbalula, has said that the party would pay back any funds it received from the collapsed VBS Mutual Bank if the party is found to have benefitted.
Speaking during a media briefing, Mbalula addressed questions over the ANC’s alleged involvement in the VBS scandal and he was adamant that, should the ANC be implicated in the issue, the party would pay the money back.
“The ANC has said, and it is still an ANC resolution, that if the ANC got money from VBS that money must be returned, including the claims that there was money given to Zweli Mkhize. He has given us a report on that matter,” Mbalula said.
He added that if there was any money that went into the ANC coffers, the National Executive Committee (NEC) would return the money. He added that if any individuals were subjected to criminal offences, they would be charged without any fear of favour.
Mbalul said the party is currently processing the issues and said anyone arrested and implicated in the matter, will be asked to step aside and the reports will be discussed during a special NEC meeting.
[WATCH] We are convening a special NEC Meeting, the Integrity Commission terms of reference will be adopted, and all outstanding cases (including the VBS cases) will be adopted. #ANCNEC pic.twitter.com/BVFksR54c8
— African National Congress (@MYANC) August 1, 2024
According to The Citizen, former Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) chairperson, Dali Mpofu, also said the EFF would pay the money back that it received from VBS if there is evidence found that the money went into the EFF’s bank account.
He said the party had not received direct funds from VBS but he did not rule out the possibility that they could have come from another source.
Former VBS chairperson, Tshifhiwa Matodzi, implicated EFF leaders Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu in receiving up to R16 million from VBS. He said he had met with the two after the bank helped former president Zuma with funding his Nkandla residence.
Matodzi said he had agreed to transfer R5 million to the EFF through Sgameka, a company owned by Shivambu’s brother, Brian. Malema has denied his involvement in the VBS scandal.
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Compiled by Matthew Petersen
