Watch| Julius Malema Denies Knowledge of VBS Mutual Bank Bribe Allegations

EFF leader Julius Malema has publicly denied any knowledge that a donation offered to his party by then VBS Mutual Bank chairperson Tshifhiwa Matodzi was a bribe.

Matodzi, in an affidavit, alleged that the EFF received a R5 million lump sum and R1 million monthly donations in 2017 to help clean up the bank’s tarnished reputation following a controversial loan to former President Jacob Zuma for his Nkandla home.

Malema vehemently denied the bribery allegations, stating that at the time of the donation, he did not interpret it as a bribe.

In an interview with SABC, Malema clarified, “The guy [Matodzi] said in his own sponsored affidavit that he offered to donate to the EFF; he didn’t say the EFF came to ask him for money. So, since when is a person donating to the EFF a crime? Then he said in the same paragraph, ‘they knew when I donated R5m [it was a gratification]’.”

According to Malema, the EFF never received the alleged R5 million as the party did not possess a VBS Mutual Bank account.

Malema explained, “There was a condition, according to him [Matodzi]: ‘open a VBS Mutual Bank account, therefore you’ll get the money.’ We never opened a VBS Mutual Bank account. The EFF does not have a VBS Mutual Bank account. The EFF has never received the VBS Mutual Bank money.”

Malema also pointed out the discrepancy in scrutiny between EFF and ANC members implicated in the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. He noted that ANC members, including then treasurer-general Zweli Mkhize and former Mayor of Vhembe Florence Radzilani, did not face the same level of investigation.

“Some people say, ‘VBS Mutual Bank, VBS Mutual Bank’ to me, but they are sitting next to a mayor who deposited money into VBS Mutual Bank,” Malema argued.

He further criticized the ANC for promoting individuals like Stan Mathabatha, who was the ANC chairperson during the looting, to higher positions.

Julius Malema concluded by stating that the VBS Mutual Bank accusations are being used as a tool to tarnish the EFF’s reputation.

“VBS Mutual Bank to us is a swear word. When they want to swear at us, they say VBS Mutual Bank. So they don’t mean it; they don’t genuinely mean it,” he said.

Despite the allegations, Malema maintains that neither he nor the EFF has been involved in any wrongdoing concerning the VBS Mutual Bank donations.