Journos tackle Juju

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema will today be publicly interrogated on the VBS Mutual Bank saga by a panel of journalists.

Malema tweeted that the public interrogation comes after SABC journalist Samkelo Maseko asked during an NPA briefing whether links between the EFF leader and the party and the bank were being investigated, “even though there was no mention of myself or the EFF by the NPA”.

National Director of Public Prosecutions Shamila Batohi recently briefed the country on the progress of prosecutions after the disappearance of more than R2 billion, which led to the liquidation of VBS.

Malema tweeted that following Maseko’s questioning at the briefing, he then challenged the journalist to put together five of his colleagues from media houses he trusts, who would publicly interrogate the EFF leader on the bank scandal.

“These journalists can ask whatever question they wish, from VBS, bank statements, On Point and socalled collapse of Limpopo,” Malema tweeted.

The EFF leader said he had spoken to the party to request that Pauli van Wyk be part of the interrogation as she was previously not allowed at its briefings.

Van Wyk has published stories on how the EFF, Malema and his second-in-command, Floyd Shivambu, are believed to have benefitted from the looting of the bank.

The interrogation will take place at the EFF’s headquarters today at noon and will be broadcast on the party’s online platforms.

“Let the court of public opinion begin. We are not scared,” Malema tweeted.

Seven suspects implicated in the VBS scandal were recently arrested by the Hawks and have appeared in court.

A report released in 2018, written by Advocate Terry Motau and law firm Werksmans, titled The Great Bank Heist, put the total amount stolen from the bank at R1.89 billion and recommended that more than 50 individuals be criminally charged.

7 suspects were recently arrested by the Hawks.