Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene. Picture: Gallo Images
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In a statement on Monday the PIC said it had noted a decision by the SA Reserve Bank to place VBS, which shot to fame when it granted former president Jacob Zuma a home loan of R7.8 million in 2016, under curatorship.
“The PIC, on behalf of the Government Employees Pension Fund, is one of the shareholders in VBS, holding approximately 27% equity interest of the mutual bank,” the statement said.
“The PIC will work closely with the appointed curator, Sizwe Ntsaluba Gobodo, and all other stakeholders, to assist the bank to navigate through this difficult situation and hopefully emerge much stronger.”
The announcement that VBS would be placed under curatorship came on Sunday from SARB governor Lesetja Kganyago. Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene approved the recommendation, saying it was meant to “nurse the bank back to health”.
The aim of curatorship was ultimately to turn the mutual bank around and was in contrast with liquidation, where the mutual bank was closed down, the Treasury said on Sunday.
VBS’s placement under curatorship follows liquidity challenges stemming from the termination of deposits from municipalities, who are not allowed to use mutual banks according to municipal finance laws.
