Zweli Mkhize can’t recall ‘R2m donation’ to ANC from VBS

The department of cooperative governance and traditional affairs minister and the then treasurer of the African National Congress Zweli Mkhize has denied claims that he requested R2 million from the VBS Mutual Bank for the party’s 2016 elections campaign.

It was reported that Mkhize asked for R2 million from the bank’s bosses and allegedly promised to assist the bank in securing investment from municipalities.

In a statement released by his office on Wednesday morning, Mkhize said that, in his capacity as the treasurer of the party, he “never assisted VBS in securing any funding from municipalities or any other state institution”.

ALSO READ: ANC mum on R2m VBS ‘donation’

“I have confirmed before that I met with VBS management and directors. This meeting was meant to introduce the bank to the organisation and to make one understand its business model.”

Mkhize claims he never requested any form of a donation in exchange for a favour for the bank.

“I have no direct knowledge or personal recollection of the R2 million donation by VBS during my tenure as TG as reported. If any financial contribution was made to the ANC by VBS or any other company, this would have been without any influence or commitment from the ANC to do favours,” he said.

The minister said he was unaware of the bank’s relationship with municipalities.

“I only became aware of this relationship with municipalities and suspected fraud involving the VBS bank when this matter featured in the media this year,” he said.

ALSO READ: ANC integrity committee recommends leaders fingered in VBS saga step aside

On Monday, the ANC’s integrity committee recommended that two Limpopo ANC leaders mentioned in the ‘Big bank Heist’ report commissioned by the Reserve Bank step aside.

A number of ANC municipalities invested large amounts of money in the VBS Bank.

The report released earlier this month said the money “looted” from the bank was close to R2 billion.

For more news your way, download The Citizen’s app for iOS and Android.