JOHANNESBURG – Standard Bank has confirmed the authenticity of payment evidence submitted by the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) to AfriForum after the lobby group accused the party of manufacturing forged receipts.
This pertains to legal fees incurred in 2017 when AfriForum successfully stopped the EFF from calling for the invasion of unoccupied private land.
In September, the Constitutional Court dismissed the EFF’s appeal with costs.
AfriForum said while the money was reflected in its bank accounts, it believes the receipts were doctored.
The lobby group posted the proof of payment (POP) on social media platform X, questioning its authenticity, and subsequently announcing that its private prosecution unit was investigating the Red Berets for giving it falsified receipts.
Chartered Accountant, Khaya Sithole said the POP raised some questions:
“What was curious about the proof of payment, is it indicated the board of directors of Standard Bank from two generations ago, which has been replaced by another board, and then also has been replaced by another board.”
On Saturday morning, Standard Bank released a statement clarifying that the receipts were printed on an outdated template.
The bank said it is investigating the erroneous response its fraud department sent to AfriForum, suggesting the POPs were fake.
Meanwhile, the EFF on X welcomed Standard Bank’s clarification, saying it is once again vindicated, and “AfriForum is once again exposed as liars.”
Leave a Reply