AfriForum wants EFF’s Malema to be investigated for VBS Bank money syphoning claims

JOHANNESBURG - Lobby group AfriForum says it will lay a criminal complaint against Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema to be investigated in connection with allegations that he benefited from money syphoned from VBS Mutual Bank.

Last week, the bank's former chairman claimed that Malema and his deputy, Floyd Shivambu, knowingly accepted gratifications from the institution, which would later have to be regularised.

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Over R2 billion was looted from VBS, and many low-income people in Limpopo lost their savings.

AfriForum’s Kallie Kriel said they are taking these steps against Malema and Shivambu to ensure that there is equality before the law.

“We have seen in the past that the National Prosecuting Authority is hesitant to prosecute Mr Malema. We’ve seen that from the On Point corruption scandal, where they initially started to prosecute him but later stopped.”

Kriel said they want the Hawks to investigate Malema for bribery, money laundering and corruption.

“Not only the poor people that lost money – of course, that is the primary concern - but also secondly, municipalities that are already in despair that are not able to provide services that also invested money here.”

Kriel said they will approach the Hawks with a formal complaint over the next few days.