5 November 2018
This is a reply to the statement issued by the spokesperson of the Regent Toni Peter Mphephu. The Regent’s reaction is opportunistic. He is desperately appealing for sympathy and legitimacy. Whilst the SACP will continue to respect legitimate leaders in different spheres of our society, it is undeniable that the Regent has brought about disrespect and shame upon himself and the family. He has moved from one blunder to another.
It is a matter of public record that the South African Communist Party (SACP) in Limpopo Province has successfully launched its programme of rolling mass action against those implicated for having illegally benefitted from the VBS Mutual Bank, which was used to loot municipal finances. “The Great bank heist”, an investigative report compiled for the South African Reserve Bank by Advocate Terry Motau, assisted by Werkmans Attorneys, gives the details of the individuals and private companies that received gratuitous payments from the VBS Mutual Bank. The SACP together with different social formations has led marches to various institutions associated with the looting.
Various calls were openly made at the marches for those who received the gratuitous payments as named in the “Great bank heist” to be held accountable to the full extent of the law. The Regent, Peter Toni Mphephu is amongst those named in the report. According to the report, he received a gratuitous payment of approximately R18-million (R17 729 758). He has never denied receiving the amount but has instead offered to enter into an arrangement to return the money. Unlike his counterparts who are named in the report for having received gratuitous payments, who have threatened to go to court to challenge the report, Mphephu has accordingly acknowledged to have received the proceeds of the theft that occurred.
The SACP has categorically called for all those who have illegally benefitted from the VBS Mutual Bank as listed in “The Great bank heist” to fully co-operate with due process of the law and to accordingly step down. This call is consistent to all who are listed in “The Great bank heist” as having illegally benefitted from the VBS Mutual Bank and is therefore without a shred of exclusion. The SACP made the call, and reiterates it without fear, favour and prejudice.
The Regent is asking what the position of the SACP is regarding Cde Gilbert Kganyago, the Party’s current Limpopo Provincial Secretary and former mayor of the Capricorn Municipality. “The Great bank heist” answers this question: the Capricorn Municipality is one of the “few municipalities in Limpopo that did not find itself in serious financial difficulty when VBS was placed under curatorship” – because the municipality withdrew its previous deposit from the bank and thus avoided a loss. Should any incontrovertible evidence prove that any person has benefitted illegally from the VBS Mutual Bank using the name of the SACP or be found guilty to that end, the Party will take decisive action.
Issued by the SACP Limpopo Province
Skinjar Ramugumo, 2nd Deputy Provincial Secretary
Mobile: 079 1256283, Tel: 015 297 8128 Email: ramugumor@gmail.com
For Further information contact:
Machike Thobejane Provincial Spokesperson
Mobile: 082 3070095, Tel: 015 2978128 Email: machikesacp@gmail.com
