Disgraced former ANC Limpopo treasurer Danny Msiza says he is a “happy man” after the leaked, damning tell-all affidavit by former VBS chairperson Tshifhiwa Matodzi detailing the inner workings of the scheme.
Msiza, who was placed at the heart of the elaborate scheme, says he has been vindicated, as Matodzi's sworn statement indicates he never directly benefited from the looting.
“I’m not a kingpin, I was duped into supporting people who had ill intentions. I never knew. Whatever I did, I did in good faith,” Msiza said.
He claims what has been presented in Matodzi's affidavit has cleared him in that, “not a single cent was paid to me”.
“It does not point to me benefiting in any way from a transaction that points to VBS.
“Millions have been stolen and nowhere is he saying I was given anything. All he is saying is we were supporting the bank and the basis of that support was not because I was approached by Matsepe but that I was approached by the Venda king.”
Msiza says the former VhaVenda King Mphephu-Ramabulana's request was to have him use his position as provincial treasurer of the ANC to assist the Venda nation with its VBS outfit.
The issue is the money got stolen and of the money that was stolen I never got a cent
— Danny Msiza, former ANC Limpopo treasurer
“Part of their offering included investments, like all other banks, finance to entrepreneurs that get government contracts — a whole host of things. This was in 2016.
“What they presented is that as far back as 2013, they have been receiving municipal investments. At that point in 2016, no-one had questioned the legality of investments from municipalities. The AG audits municipalities yearly, not a single flag was raised. Only in 2017 National Treasury issued a notice saying municipalities are not allowed to invest with a mutual bank,” he told TimesLIVE Premium.
“I did not expect to receive anything in return. He says I was not even dealing with them directly. Like all other financial institutions, they appoint intermediaries and I happened to know one of them who over and above the request by the king, I also assisted in soliciting deposits.
“The issue at that point can never be about the legality or otherwise, the issue is that money got deposited and money got stolen. Because if that money was deposited and not stolen there would be no issue.”
Msiza, who has been charged with his co-accused in the R2.3bn VBS Mutual Bank heist, said it is true to form that he is not charged with fraud, insisting he never stole.
“The issue is the money got stolen, and of the money that was stolen, I never got a cent. I stand in court charged not with fraud because I never stole a single cent. The only thing I did was to support a black-owned enterprise to find a footprint in the financial services sector.
“He even goes on to detail there was an Angolan businessman, which I knew with Mr Maluleke who wanted to buy equity in the bank, which is true. He invested R140m in equity. Ask yourself, if I am involved in that scheme and conspiracy to steal money from the bank — how do I allow someone I know to invest R140m?”
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