NPA probes explosive VBS affidavit leak
The NPA has launched an investigation into the leaking of an explosive affidavit deposed to by VBS Mutual Bank heist kingpin Tshifhiwa Matodzi.
The leaked affidavit came just two days after Matodzi, the former VBS chairperson, pleaded guilty to 33 charges, including theft, fraud, money-laundering and racketeering, relating to the looting of more than R1.9bn from the bank.
The affidavit confirms key findings made by Advocate Terry Motau SC, who was hired by the Prudential Authority to investigate VBS’ affairs in 2018.
As previously reported, it further contains claims that gratifications were paid to the leadership of the EFF, Julius Malema and Floyd Shivambu.
The organisation said it had instructed its legal team to formulate charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering against the two, adding that these charges will soon be lodged with the police.
News24 reports that former Treasury DG Dondo Mogajane is also accused of accepting R1m in exchange for not forcing municipalities to withdraw investments from the bank.
In a statement on Friday, NPA spokesperson Advocate Mthunzi Mhaga said it strongly condemned the ‘unlawful leaking of an affidavit in the VBS case’.
Mhaga added: ‘The NPA leadership has instructed the DPP Pretoria – under whose jurisdiction the matter falls – to ensure that, together with the DPCI, a thorough investigation into the leak is conducted and that those responsible are held to account. This undermines the administration of justice and places several individuals, including members of the investigation and prosecution team, in danger. The NPA is considering legal options in this regard.’
He said leaking confidential documents in high-profile and complex corruption cases like VBS compromises the hard work of investigators and prosecutors.
In his plea agreement, Matodzi admitted to being personally involved in the theft of more than R1.9bn stolen from the bank between 2017 and 2018.
As part of the agreement, Matodzi was sentenced to an effective 15 years imprisonment.
Meanwhile, The Citizen reports that the DA has said it wants answers over Malema and Shivambu’s roles in the scandal.
The DA had laid criminal charges against Malema and Shivambu. But now the DA has accused the police of dragging their feet on the issue and allowing the serious allegations of corruption against Shivambu and Malema to go untested.
‘The police service is supposed to conduct itself without fear or favour but its silence on this issue is sending the wrong message in the fight against corruption and embezzlement,’ the DA said.
‘We have written to the Police Portfolio Committee chair, Ian Cameron, requesting that he summons SAPS to appear before the committee and explain why there has been no progress into the charges that were laid against Malema and Shivambu in 2018 over VBS,’ the party said.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
