Mogajane, VBS Scandal, and Non-Profit Connections: New Shifts in the Investigation

Satori News Agency has obtained critical information that sheds new light on the ongoing VBS Mutual Bank scandal involving former National Treasury Director General Dondo Mogajane. Allegations suggest that a non-profit company under the directorship of the Mkhize sisters, known to be close to Mogajane, received R1-million from VBS Mutual Bank as part of an alleged bribe attempt.

This unearthing follows a plea deal affidavit made public last month by Tshifhiwa Matodzi, former VBS chair and self-confessed "kingpin" of the theft engulfing the bank. The affidavit unveiled claims that Mogajane was to be paid off in exchange for Treasury retracting a letter that prohibited municipalities from depositing with VBS, essentially acting as a lifeline for the ailing bank.

AmaBhungane's investigation spotlights the connection between Mogajane and the Mkhize sisters - Zinzi Mkhize-Vabasa and Londiwe Maluleke - who managed Baphilile Foundation, the non-profit implicated in the alleged bribery scheme. Adding complexity, Londiwe is married to Joseph Maluleke, an attorney linked to several key personalities in the VBS saga.

Our research, including scrutiny of social media images and company records, affirms a cozy relationship between Mogajane and the sisters. The narrative becomes increasingly intricate when considering the attorney Joseph Maluleke's ties to figures embedded in the VBS scandal and his own involvement in ancillary dealings.

Baphilile Foundation, meanwhile, presents its own set of mysteries. Conflicting statements by the foundation's third director, Phemelo Tshoeu, regarding her knowledge and involvement, cast shadows over the integrity of the non-profit's operations.

Despite compelling inferences, Mogajane maintains a strong denial of the allegations, referencing constraints related to an ongoing Hawks investigation for not discussing the specifics of the claims. Both the Mkhize sisters and Maluleke have, to date, circumvented substantive responses to inquiries about their intertwined relationships and the allegations at hand.

The implications of these revelations are vast, not least in terms of how they reflect on the functioning and oversight of government entities and the non-profit sector. As this story continues to unfold, the public's understanding of the scale and entanglements of alleged corruption within VBS’s timeline and beyond are profoundly impacted.