28-year-old JDA CEO facing money laundering charges has to answer to ANCYL

JDA CEO Themba Mathibe with ANCYL leaders. Picture: Supplied ANC Youth League (ANCYL) president Collen Malatji says the controversial CEO of the Johannesburg Development Agency (JDA) should explain himself to the party following his arrest last week. Themba Mathibe (28) was arrested for keeping more than R1 million in his Sandton home.

He is facing money laundering charges. Speaking on Tuesday, Malatji confirmed that Mathibe remains a member of the ANCYL but will have to answer to the organisation’s leaders. “So far, whatever we have are rumours.

We do not have a report sitting before us on what really happened. But it would be unfortunate that a young, talented person like that, whom the youth league has invested in fully and is a clear product of the investment of the youth league, is accused of such allegations.” Malatji described Mathibe’s arrest as a setback for the youth league. “We want a proper explanation so that we find out what really happened, and we will be able to respond to the media as the youth league on this matter, but we believe the matter will be well explained when the member comes forward.

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“So far, we only read from the media that there is such an arrest; we do not know the arrest for what,” said Malatji. TheANCYL’s constitutionexplains that a member may be expelled if found guilty following a party disciplinary process. A disciplinary, according to the party, would be initiated if a member is convicted in a court of law “and sentenced to a term of imprisonment without the option of a fine, for any serious non-political offence”. The DA in Johannesburg has demanded an explanation on how Mathibe was appointed as the head of JDA and the Johannesburg Social Housing Company (Joshco).

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