LIMPOPO Social Development MEC Florence Radzilani.
Limpopo Social Development MEC Florence Radzilani, who has been implicated in the looting of the VBS Mutual Bank, will have been relieved after the leader of the Government of National Unity, the ANC, defended her.
The more than R2.3 billion stolen from VBS has recently hogged the spotlight and seems to be sowing divisions between comrades after an explosive affidavit by one of the culprits.
The bank’s former chairperson, Tshifhiwa Matodzi, in detailed testimony, has implicated individuals and political parties including the EFF, the ANC and its alliance partner, the SACP.
Radzilani is accused of stealing more than R300 000 channelled towards her for investing in the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank during her tenure as Vhembe mayor.
However, the ANC in Limpopo says there is still no basis to pursue the step-aside clause against its deputy chairperson.
The ANC provincial spokesperson, Jimmy Machaka, reportedly said: “The deputy chair and the MEC of Social Development has not been charged by any law enforcement agencies and therefore there is absolutely nothing we can do at this stage, as far as the organisation is concerned, unless if new information comes to light, which will then propel the PEC (provincial executive committee) to change its initial stance as far as the matter is concerned.”
According to the leaked affidavit by the now-disgraced Matodzi, Radzilani wanted to receive “Christmas”, amounting to at least R1.5 million.
Radzilani has since been appointed to serve in the Limpopo government, with the ANC contending no charges have been brought against her.
Matodzi was handed a 15-year jail term by the Gauteng High Court, Pretoria, last month after pleading guilty to 33 counts which include corruption, theft, fraud and money laundering.
The latest to be pointing fingers at each other are the SACP’s former and current leadership over a R3m conference debt that was allegedly settled through the hard-earned funds of VBS investors.
On Wednesday, SACP chairperson Blade Nzimande lashed out at his comrade, former Limpopo party secretary Phatse Justice Piitso, after he penned a letter calling on the SACP to pay back R3m alleged to have been paid to the Birchwood Hotel for the SACP’s 2017 national conference – from VBS coffers.
Radzilani declined to comment.
The Star
mashudu.sadike@inl.co.za