WATCH: EFF links VBS allegations to Pravin Gordhan

EFF leader Julius Malema said Gordhan and his faction want to discredit the EFF ahead of next year’s elections. 

He held a media briefing alongside his deputy Floyd Shivambu and national chairperson Dali Mpofu in Braamfontein on Tuesday. 

Shivambu allegedly received R10 million from his brother Brian, who owns Sgameka Projects. 

The report by Advocate Terry Motau and Werksman Attorneys mentions Brian as one of the people who benefitted from the scheme, walking away with R16 million. 

Malema told journalists the party stands by Shivambu and is confident that he has not benefitted from the looting of the bank. 

“It’s Pravin’s group that is behind this, that’s how he survives. He fights extremely dirty with information and he thinks we are scared of him.” 

Malema said the EFF is aware that the so-called rogue unit is still in operation. 

 “There has never been any R10 million that came into my account. So, the misleading information which the Daily Maverick has is deliberate and its part of the propaganda machinery. We can challenge the journalist to bring the evidence. It is poor insanity, it’s madness,”  Shivambu added.

Malema said the party will not subject Shivambu to a disciplinary process as there is no evidence of wrongdoing. 

“They want to weaken our position because there are three private members bills that have been tabled by the EFF. One is the Banking Amendment Bill, two is the SA Reserve Bank Amendment Bill and three is the general Anti-Tax Avoidance Bill. Almost all of these issues speaking to the bank system and money movements. So, they want to get an opportunity that every time we just for the passing of this legislation they will always shout VBS. We didn’t take any money from VBS and anyone who thinks that is mad,” said Shivambu. 

Malema said Shivambu's brother Brian has been made the face of the VBS scandal despite the fact that ANC officials are also mentioned in the report.