VBS scandal: ActionSA expresses doubt over ANC move to deal with implicated members

ActionSA has described the African National Congress’ (ANC) intent to punish party members implicated in the VBS Mutual Bank corruption scandal as an empty election campaign promise with little prospect of success.

The party said although it welcomed ANC’s calls to hold party members accountable, it remained skeptical as to whether these calls would bring justice against the culprits who looted money of the most vulnerable people of Limpopo.

Scandal

The ANC in Limpopo has been accused of failing to deal with those allegedly involved in the looting of R2 billion from the bank.

This saw ANC Limpopo chairperson Stanley Mathabatha coming to the defence of his provincial leadership, saying they acted swiftly once allegations around VBS corruption surfaced.

Decisive action

ActionSA’s utterances came after ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula told News24 that leadership at Luthuli House – the ANC’s headquarters – would take matters into its own hands on VBS.

“On issues of corruption, in particular those related to the VBS Mutual Bank, [the National Working Committee] has agreed that now national leadership is going to take it upon itself to address all issues pertaining to VBS along with the provincial ANC.

“We are doing so to avoid the hurdles we have been encountered. We can’t be talking about the same thing for the past five years. We need decisive action to be taken,” he said.

ALSO READ: ‘Decisive action needed,’ says Mbalula on ANC members implicated in VBS scandal

Opportunistic

ActionSA Limpopo provincial chairperson, Sello Lediga, said justice delayed is justice denied.

“While ActionSA agrees with the ANC on dealing with VBS suspects within its ranks, it is clear that the decision is opportunistic, inspired by the 2024 general election.

“The ruling party, for the first time on the brink of losing power next year, is trying to fool the voters in Limpopo to believe that it is acting in the best interests of the victims of this heinous act. Nothing is farther from the truth.

“This is nothing else but a self-serving stratagem to save the corrupt ruling party from imminent demise,” he said in a statement.

ActionSA has also urged the people of Limpopo to see this initiative for what it is.

“Our people are not stupid and must in their numbers reject the corrupt ruling party by voting it out of power next year. Henceforth, ActionSA will place this matter high on its agenda of highlighting this injustice until justice is done.”

Additional reporting by Molefe Seeletsa

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