Mkhize: VBS allegations 'untrue and laughable'

This follows an article in the Sunday Times, in which the newspaper alleges that former VBS executives claimed they had paid R2 million to Mkhize in 2016. 

Mkhize, who is the Minister of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs, has labelled the reports "untrue and laughable". 

"I have confirmed before that I met with VBS management and directors. This was a formally-arranged meeting with the treasurer-general's office. This meeting was meant to introduce the bank to the organisation and to make one understand its business model. This was nothing uncommon as I constantly met and interacted with representatives of various institutions, including other financial institutions.

"This meeting was never about favours for them but rather to engage and share the ANC transformation vision. As a leader, it was incumbent on me to listen to any concerns or challenges that business, both big and small, had or wished to share with the organisation." 

According to the Sunday Times, the funds were allegedly used to pay a service provider during the 2016 elections.  The VBS executives had paid the money while under the impression that Mkhize would assist the bank in attaining funding from municipalities. 

"I also did not request any form of donation in exchange for doing a favour for them, such as securing funding from state institutions or municipalities. 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. 

I have no direct knowledge or personal recollection of the R2million donation by VBS during my tenure as treasurer-general, as reported," Mkhize says. 

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has since laid criminal charges against Mkhize for his alleged involvement in the scandal.