‘Absolutely shocking!’ Naledi Pandor denies Julius Malema’s claim that she got a VBS bond

Politics
September 19, 2024

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Pandor decided to step down from politics earlier this year, retiring at 70 from her role as South Africa’s International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) Minister.

However, she has been thrust back into the political spotlight following allegations by EFF leader Julius Malema about her alleged links to VBS Mutual Bank.

Malema made the comments while appearing on SABC’s Face the Nation on Tuesday.

“Naledi Pandor was also in the VBS bond or something. Yes, she was there. They’re your darlings, you’ll never know their names. You know the names of those you don’t like,” he said.

Pandor says there is no truth to Malema’s comments.

“I’ve never had a bond from VBS or any bank outside of Cape Town, because my home is Cape Town, I bank in Cape Town and that’s where I’ve had a mortgage from.”

– Naledi Pandor

“I just don’t know where this story comes from… I’m disappointed that he would be so dishonest in this way. Absolutely shocking!”

– Naledi Pandor

Pandor says she is baffled by Malema’s assertions, and that she has never said a negative word about him.

She says it is disappointing that he has attempted to ‘besmirch’ her name.

Pandor says she first heard about the accusations as she was disembarking a flight from Canada.

“A lady at the airport asked me about it and I was stunned,” she says.

“I also hope I’ll have an opportunity on the very show Mr Malema was on, because I’m sure the public is wondering.”

– Naledi Pandor

Several bank executives, municipal officials and political figures, including Malema and his former EFF co-founder Floyd Shivambu, have been linked to the VBS scandal which involved the looting of the bank to the tune of nearly R2 billion between 2015 and 2018.