‘Bank scheme is to protect ANC bigwigs’

VBS: SUGGESTIONS IT WILL FALL UNDER LIMPOPO PROVINCE

DA and EFF have both threatened harsh action if the plan is implemented.

The Limpopo ANC’s plan to rescue the controversial VBS Mutual Bank has been described as an ANC ploy to protect party bigwigs, entangled in allegations of convincing municipalities to invest R1.5 billion in the bank, from going into jail.

This is the view of the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), with the latter threatening harsh action if the plan is implemented.

On Tuesday, the Limpopo ANC leadership marched to Luthuli House, where they asked the national leadership of the ANC to assist in an alleged move to convert the Limpopo VBS into a Limpopo provincial bank.

Moles within the ANC in Limpopo said the party recommended that the bank should be converted into a Limpopo provincial bank run and managed by the Limpopo economic development agency.

After hours of deliberations, President Cyril Ramaphosa had allegedly treaded with caution as it had the capacity to divide the party and bring shame to the Limpopo ANC and the provincial government. But the move has opened a can of worms for the ANC and the Limpopo provincial government, run by Ramaphosa’s political protege, Premier Stan Mathabatha.

The DA has since brought motions of no confidence in mayors and municipal managers who brushed aside a national treasury ban against municipalities investing in the bank.

The DA said the plan had nothing to do with rescuing the beleaguered bank, but is meant to open doors of looting for the ANC.

“The DA believes that forensic investigations into the VBS scandal must be allowed to be completed as a matter of urgency, and should be done independently as this is the only way to ensure accountability,” DA shadow minister of cooperative governance Kevin Mileham said yesterday. .

Mileham said the Limpopo provincial government could not be trusted with money in reference to the time the provincial government was put under administration with six of the province’s departments being unable to account for R2.7 billion.

Mileham said it was laughable that the same government now wants the failed bank to be converted into a provincial government bank.

“The Limpopo we are talking about has been worst affected by the ongoing VBS saga, with key members of the ANC provincial executive committee, treasurer Danny Msiza and ANCYL secretary David Selan being directly implicated.”

The EFF shared similar sentiments in a statement released yesterday, saying the ANC in Limpopo and the Limpopo provincial government were terrified of their members facing the law. “That is why instead of saving VBS, the Limpopo ANC now wants to save Danny Msiza and his cronies from going straight to jail,” it read.

“He has now realised he is facing the door of prison and now he is using people like party provincial secretary Soviet Lekganyane to fight his battles.”

Msiza has since distanced himself from allegations that he recruited mayors and managers from Limpopo municipalities to invest with the bank.

ANC spokesperson Pule Mabe downplayed the allegations.

“The meeting between the Limpopo ANC and the NEC was a courtesy one. Regions and provinces visit Luthuli House on lateral matters. It had nothing to do with the VBS saga or changing the bank to a Limpopo provincial government bank.” –

He has now realised he is facing the door of prison

The Citizen was told yesterday that several PEC members, who served under Mathale, were upset at being out in the cold, and wanted to be deployed in government.

The members allegedly argued that it was time for those who did not support his candidature for a second term, and who opposed President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Nasrec elective conference, to be recalled in favour of those who supported them.

Last week several MECs who supported minister in the presidency Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma to be the party’s president at Nasrec told The Citizen they were gripped by fear of being fired by Mathabatha.

The MECs, who spoke anonymously, said they became even more frustrated after Mathabatha appointed some of his coterie into his cabinet soon after he returned from an investment trip to China.

Mathabatha appointed Thandi Moraka as MEC responsible for sport, arts and culture and ANC deputy provincial secretary Baisikop Makamu as new MEC for agriculture and land reform.

Makamu replaced Joyce Mashamba, who died recently, while Moraka replaced former MEC Onicca Moloi a fortnight ago.

“We have known since the conference that we are facing the chop,” said one of the MECs, speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of victimisation.

Another MEC who was part of the meeting described Mathabatha as a fine leader who did not hold grudges.

“He is good at heart in that he can’t even hurt a fly. I think he will mix both those who supported his principal [Ramaphosa] going to Nasrec, and those who spoke a different political language, just like Ramaphosa did,” he said.

Approached for comment, the ANC in the province said whoever Mathabatha wanted to appoint into his cabinet remained his choice.

Mathabatha’s spokesperson Kenny Mathivha said the premier was highly pressed with vital issues and a reshuffle was the last thing on his mind.