VBS Bank Suspects Expected in Court on Thursday on 47 Counts

Faizel Patel – 17/06/2020

The Hawks have confirmed that Eight VBS Bank suspects are expected to appear in the Palm Ridge Regional Court on 47 counts of fraud, racketeering, corruption, theft and money laundering.

News 24 reports that Hawks head Lieutenant General Godfrey Lebeya said the eight men had accrued R122-million to themselves unduly, directly and indirectly, over several months.

Lebeya and NPA boss Shamila Batohi briefed the media on Wednesday on conclusions of their investigations into the VBS saga.

Lebeya says ten premises were searched this on Wednesday where several items including documents were seized.

“It was decided to charge the suspects with 47 counts of various criminal offences.”

Those arrested include former VBS and Vele Investments chairperson Tshifhiwa Matodzi, the alleged kingpin behind the heist.

Batohi says the advancements by the Hawks was a milestone and they would be making arrests where they have to.

WFP urges global support as Malawi faces looming food crisis triggered by El Niño

Neelam Rahim | neelam@radioislam.co.za 3-minute read 19 April 2024 | 16:38 CAT Malawi is facing its worst food crisis in a decade, with two million people urgently needing life-saving food assistance due to drought exacerbated by El Niño. The situation has been...

Scepticism lingers despite respite: Questions arise over long-term power supply stability

Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za 19 April 2024 | 16:30 CAT 3 min read Eskom has not enforced load-shedding for nearly 23 days, marking its longest respite from power cuts since December 2023. This has spurred speculation among the public about potential interference...

South Africa seeks global treaty on plastic pollution amid competing interests

Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za 19 April 2024 | 13:30 CAT 3 min read South Africa stands out with the highest rate of plastic waste generation in Africa, averaging 28kg per person annually, contrasting with the continent's average of 16kg per person per year. South...

The ASRI Report

Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za 19 April 2024 | 13:30 SAST 2-minute read The Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) has dismissed the uMkhonto we Sizwe Party’s (MKP) call for the resignation of Janet Love. The demand followed Love’s remarks in January that...

Pakistan implements phase 2 of Afghan refugee repatriation plan

Sameera Casmod | sameerac@radioislam.co.za 19 April 2024 | 11:54 a.m. SAST 2-minute read “The Afghan Taliban are not too open about [Shahbaz Sharif’s left-wing government in Pakistan],” Arshad Yousafzai, a journalist from Pakistan, said earlier today on Radio Islam...

Court upholds London school’s ban on prayer rituals, stirring debate on religious freedom

Azra Hoosen | ah@radioislam.co.za 19 April 2024 | 11:00 CAT 5 min read In a case sparking a national debate on religious freedoms in schools, a Muslim pupil in the United Kingdom has seen her court challenge against a prestigious London school's prohibition on prayer...