-
VBS branch.
Former chairperson of the now defunct VBS Mutual Bank, Tshifhiwa Matodzi has testified that they had a strategy to give gratifications and bribes to politicians who convinced municipalities to invest with the bank.
Matodzi is testifying in the corruption trial related to VBS looting at the Special Commercial Crimes Court in Polokwane, Limpopo.
Former Mayor of the Thulamela Local Municipality, Avhashoni Tshifhango is on trial for alleged corruption.
Tshifhango allegedly received a vehicle valued at more than half a million rand as gratification after the municipality invested R30 million in VBS.
Matodzi says they used ROBVET company to pay bribes and gratifications to influential people.
“It was part of our strategy to lobby. Unfortunately in this business, when we talk about lobbying, we are referring (about) giving influential people bribes and gratifications even paying them costs from that business,” says Matodzi.
The Special Commercial Crimes Court in Polokwane Limpopo has heard that there was meeting between former provincial ANC Treasurer, Danny Msiza, Tshifhango and VBS officials to discuss an investment by the municipality.
Matodzi told the court that Msiza asked Tshifhango why the municipality was not investing with VBS. He is serving a 15-year jail term for multiple fraud charges and he is currently testifying in the corruption trial against Tshifhango at the Special Commercial Crimes Court in Polokwane.
