The state is opposing the application for separate trials made by two of the accused in the VBS looting scandal, Kabelo Matsepe and Danny Msiza, who are represented by disgraced former NPA boss, Sean Abrahams, who has returned to private law practice.
The state argues that separating the cases would undermine their prosecution, as the evidence relies on the fact that all 13 accused in the matter acted together.
State Prosecutor, Hein van der Merwe, has urged the high court in Pretoria to dismiss the application, citing the implications of witnesses having to testify twice about the same issues.
“There’s a body of evidence that the state is going to rely on to show that the accused acted together. If the matters are going to be separated – there are going to be implications for this trial, that eventually are going to lead to witnesses having to testify twice about the same issues and that’s not fair to them,” he told the high court.
Despite this, Abrahams maintains that his clients will continue to assert their rights and push for separate trials.
Matsepe and Msiza, alongside their co-accused, face various charges including money laundering, racketeering, and fraud for their alleged roles in looting over R1.9 billion from the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank.
Former VBS boss turned convicted state witness, Tshifhiwa Matodzi, has implicated Matsepe and Msiza as key figures in the “great bank heist.”
The ANC leaders are accused of coercing municipality officials to invest with VBS and siphoning off the money.
Both men where high-profile ANC members in Limpopo, where VBS had its roots.
The looting of over R1.9 billion from the bank affected many ordinary South Africans, including the elderly, some of whom were defrauded of their life savings.
Matodzi’s affidavit has also named several senior politicians who allegedly benefited from the looting, including EFF leader Julius Malema and former Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize, who have all denied the claims.
The pre-trial proceedings continue next month. Written by Naomi Kobbie
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