Mongezi Koko19 July 2024 | 14:32

AfriForum lays criminal complaint against EFF's Malema, Shivambu over VBS claims

The move by AfriForum follows an affidavit by former VBS chairperson, Tshifhiwa Matodzi, detailing crucial evidence of how former VBS employees, politicians, non-executives and businessmen brought the bank to its knees through corruption.

AfriForum lays criminal complaint against EFF's Malema, Shivambu over VBS claims

EFF leader Julius Malema (centre) and his deputy, Floyd Shivambu (right), during a media briefing in Cape Town on 13 June 2024. Picture: Thabiso Goba/Eyewitness News

JOHANNESBURG - Lobby group AfriForum has opened a criminal case against Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema and his deputy, Floyd Shivambu, relating to the VBS scandal.
 
The move by AfriForum follows a 77-page affidavit by former VBS chairperson, Tshifhiwa Matodzi, detailing crucial evidence of how former VBS employees, politicians, non-executives and businessmen brought the bank to its knees through corruption.  
 
The re-emergence of the damning allegations by Matodzi caused Malema to respond, maintaining his innocence and reiterating that his party did not contribute to the fall of the bank.
 
AfriForum said the criminal complaint filed on Friday asked authorities to investigate the two politicians on a range of charges, and the political party as an organised crime enterprise.
 
The organisation's Gerrie Nel: "We believe in equality of the law, that is what we are all about. We want to ensure that this matter gets the attention it deserves. We think there is a reluctance by the NPA to take action and to prosecute Mr Malema and Shivambu."