Pretoria - The ANC in Limpopo has announced that arrested Sekhukhune District mayor Julia Mathebe will be stepping aside from all party activities until she cleared her name.
A regional party chairperson in Sekhukhune, she was arrested on Wednesday for her alleged role in the looting of the VBS Mutual Bank that left scores of people, mostly the poor, out of pocket in 2018.
Mathebe, 51, former mayor of Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality, and her former municipal manager, Minah Maredi, 59, appeared in the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crime Court on Wednesday on charges of corruption and maladministration.
ANC provincial spokesperson Jimmy Machaka said the party was giving Mathebe “space and respect for her to attend to the court matter without any distraction”.
“Consequently, Cde Julia Mathebe will be stepping aside from her responsibilities of leadership and deployment as per the resolution of the 54th national conference and guidelines adopted by the national executive committee.”
The party called upon all sectors of society “to respect the rights of Cde Julia Mathebe of being innocent until proven otherwise by the competent court of law”.
The municipality has maintained its silence on Mathebe’s arrest.
The case was postponed to March 2 next year, while the duo, who were arrested by the Priority Crime Investigation Directorate (Hawks) in Groblersdal on Wednesday morning, were each granted bail of R30 000.
They stand accused of investing R190 million in the now collapsed bank in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
Mathebe is alleged to have received more than R300 000 in gratifications, which included cash, accommodation and flight tickets, which were channelled through a company belonging to her children.
Municipal spokesperson Khomotso Ndlovu said the municipality was aware of the case but could not comment on the matter as it was sub judice.
Hawks spokesperson Katlego Mogale said the arrest was as a result of an ongoing investigation into the VBS Mutual Bank investments that were made by municipalities in contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act.
She said: “The two (Mathebe and Maredi) are charged with corruption, money laundering and contravention of the Municipal Finance Management Act, as well as the Banks Act.”
ActionSA and the DA in Limpopo welcomed the arrests, with ActionSA provincial leader Sello Lediga saying he looked forward to more arrests taking place.
“We look forward to more arrests in this VBS saga that robbed so many of their hard-earned money, particularly the vulnerable and the elderly.”
DA MP Lindy Wilson also welcomed the arrests. “While several officials have been arrested, many more individuals that are involved directly or indirectly are yet to face consequences for their roles,” Wilson said.
“The DA is therefore looking forward to more arrests linked to the VBS scandal and will not rest until all those implicated are brought to book.”
Pretoria News