Tongue lashing for Cyril & ANC top brass

● Limpopo premier loses cool as he gatecrashes a virtual meeting of party and Venda traditional leaders discussing revival of the looted VBS Bank ● Insiders says Mathabatha was not pleased with discussions on a provincial matter without him

Limpopo ANC chairperson Stan Mathabatha allegedly lashed out at the ANC national leadership for not inviting him to a crucial meeting yesterday to discuss the future of the collapsed VBS Mutual Bank.

Sowetan has learnt that the meeting was called to discuss the Vhavenda Royal Nation’s request to be part of the discussions to revive the collapsed bank in which a staggering R2bn was looted. The Vhavenda Royal Council wrote a letter to the ANC leadership asking to be involved in any discussions on the prospects of reviving the defunct bank and addressing the plight of those that lost their investments.

According to sources who attended the virtual meeting between the party’s top six officials, Limpopo ANC provincial officials and senior Vhavenda traditional leaders, an angry Mathabatha “stormed” the Zoom meeting which was about to conclude and said he felt undermined.

“He didn’t wait to be given the floor to speak, he just interrupted the meeting and told the ANC national chairperson, Gwede Mantashe, that he felt undermined.

“He said it was unacceptable that matters of his province are discussed without his knowledge,” said one official who attended the meeting.

“He told them that he is raising this matter before everyone including ANC President Cyril Ramaphosa that it must not be repeated. He said he can’t learn about matters of his province in the streets.”

The meeting heard presentations from ANC secretarygeneral Ace Magashule on the reinstatement of the two Limpopo ANC officials Danny Msiza and Florence Radzilani who were implicated in the massive looting by the bank’s executives, according to the “Great Bank Heist” report by advocate Terry Motau. Msiza challenged the report in court and it was set aside because he was not given an opportunity by investigators to give his side of the story.

Another source confirmed Mathabatha’s outbursts and said it was for the first time he saw the premier of Limpopo “spitting fire like that”.

“Everyone was quiet in the meeting as he emphasised [the point] that he can’t be told by people in the streets that there is a meeting. He told Mantashe that this shouldn’t happen again and he (Mantashe) told him to direct his outburst to Magashule,” said the source.

When asked for comment on the incident, Mantashe said: “You see, when you reach 65 [years] you stop being petty. So, please don’t take pettiness and make it a story. We had three wonderful meetings today and we can talk about that content but if you want pettiness try next door.”

Sowetan further learnt that the meeting which resumed at 11am was attended by Ramaphosa, Mantashe, Magashule, Paul Mashatile, ANC provincial secretary Soviet Lekganyane and deputy secretary Basikopo Makamu and five senior traditional leaders from Vhembe and the party’s support staff. Lekganyane confirmed the meeting took place and it was arranged by the ANC president but referred questions on why Mathabatha was not invited to the ANC national office at Luthuli House.

“The office of the president and secretary-general are the ones who arranged this meeting and invited everyone who is suitable to be part of the discussions to join,” Lekganyane said. Another source said he found Mathabatha’s behaviour unacceptable. “He shouldn’t have allowed his anger to dominate his thinking because he should have raised his issues in the absence of the senior traditional leaders. The issues he raised are internal and shouldn’t be heard by visitors,” the source said.

Mathabatha spokesperson Kenny Mathivha referred Sowetan to the ANC provincial spokesperson Donald Selamolela. Selamolela confirmed that Mathabatha, Lekganyane and Makamu attended the meeting with national officials and senior traditional leaders from Vhembe.

Vhavenda Royal Council secretary Chief Mbangiseni Masia told Sowetan he made a presentation about the bank before the ANC officials in a virtual Zoom meeting.

“We are happy that the ANC has listened to us and promised that they will do everything in their power to help us revive the bank.”

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He told Mantashe that this shouldn’t happen again

/ANTONIO MUCHAVE Limpopo premier Stan Mathabatha is alleged to have felt undermined that he was not invited at a meeting in his province to discuss the prospects of the revival of the VBS Bank.