The Congress of South African Trade Unions in Limpopo welcomes the execution of warrants of arrest against VBS looting suspects by the Directorate For Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI). For the past years, the federation has been in the forefront of the fight against rampant corruption, greed and malfeasance both in the public and private sectors.
Subsequent to the collapse of the VBS Mutual Bank and the release of the Great Bank Heist investigation report by Advocate Terry Motau SC in October 2018, the federation took a decision to embark on rolling mass action in defense of the depositors – the working class and the poor who lost their hard-earned savings. On the 2nd November 2018, the federation supported by its allies, the African National Congress, South African Communist Party and South African National Civic Organization embarked on demonstrations against seven municipalities that unlawfully invested public monies into the VBS Mutual Bank.
That was followed by a provincial march to the Office of the Premier, COGHSTA, Treasury and SAPS organized on the 14th November 2018 demanding swift action by both our provincial government and law enforcement agencies on the VBS looting.
After almost a year and seven months of waiting, the long arm of the law has finally caught up with those who looted the hard-earned savings of our people and the wheels of justice are now turning. We now know that an amount of R 1.5 billion of public and poor people’s savings was lost into the pockets of unscrupulous and voracious individuals. The arrests of the VBS looting suspects will go a long way in restoring the trust our people have in the justice system of our country. Indeed, our country can only turn the tide against corruption if and when those implicated are arrested.
The federation will be closely following the case and we are making a call to the National Prosecution Authority to be meticulous on this case. No stone must be left unturned to ensure justice is served for our people.
Issued by COSATU Limpopo
Gerald Mkhomazi Twala (Provincial Secretary)
Mark Shope House
79A Biccard Street
Polokwane
0700
Mobile: 071 587 2872/076 522 8864
E-Mail: gerald@cosatu.org.za