The state is expected to call more witnesses in the ongoing trial of the three Radzuma siblings, Percy, Simon and Ndivhuwo, who are accused of murdering South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU) leaders Timson Musetsho and Ronald Mani, and a person of interest in the SAMWU killings.
The trial is taking place at the Thohoyandou High Court in Limpopo.
Musetsho and Mani were vocal opponents of the Vhembe district municipality’s decision to invest R300 million in the now-defunct VBS Mutual Bank. Their killings are believed to be linked to their stance against this investment.
To date, scores of witnesses have testified in the trial, with seven taking the stand this week. Their testimonies have primarily focussed on robberies and hijacking incidents allegedly committed by the Radzuma brothers. The identities of the next witnesses to testify are expected to be revealed in court.
The state has lined up a total of 150 witnesses to take the stand, including investigating officers, relatives of the deceased, municipal workers, and politicians. The trial is expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the murders and the alleged involvement of the Radzuma brothers.
As of July last year, at least 27 individuals have been arrested in connection with the VBS Mutual Bank scandal. The arrests include:
- Eight individuals were charged with 47 counts of theft, fraud, corruption, and contraventions of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act. These include the bank’s chairperson, CEO, and CFO.
- Six suspects were apprehended in Gauteng for fraud and corruption.
- Three additional individuals were arrested for investing municipal funds with VBS.
The scandal involves R2 billion lost due to alleged fraud and corruption. The funds were invested by municipalities, including those in Limpopo, North West, and Gauteng, and then paid out to selected individuals.
VBS Bank Trial Resumes | 14 defendants face racketeering, fraud, and money laundering charges:
