Standard Bank Responds to Social Media Claims by Dr. Anele Mngadi Hammond

Dr. Anele Mngadi Hammond recently went viral on social media over a historic vehicle finance case with Standard bank in 2018.

In the videos, Dr. Hammond accuses the institution of serious misconduct and also claims that Standard Bank and its representatives engaged in criminal activities.

“As a 163-year institution that serves millions of customers, Standard Bank places the highest value on trust, integrity, and accountability. Our operations are governed by robust internal controls, regulatory oversight and strict adherence to legal and ethical standards.” Kabelo Makeke, Head of Personal and Private Banking, Standard Bank South Africa.

Standard Bank’s statements in response to the points made by Dr. Hammond are as follows:

• The suggestion that Standard Bank and its representatives have engaged in or authorized criminal activity, including fraud, is false and baseless.

• Standard Bank in the ordinary course of its collections processes, engages with debtors to explore various mechanisms to settle a debt.  In this case, after lengthy negotiations, Dr. Hammond voluntarily agreed to settle the debt.  Dr. Hammond paid the agreed amount, and Standard Bank, therefore, did not ultimately repossess the vehicle that was the subject matter of the agreement.

• At no point did Standard Bank or its representatives perform any acts of violence or intimidation towards Dr. Hammond or any of her family members.

• While we respect the rights of the individual to express their views against our business, practices and processes, it is regrettable and irresponsible for Dr. Hammond to publish false information.

• Dr. Hammond, her daughter and a Trust issued a summons against Standard Bank and its CEO, Sim Tshabalala, more than 21 months after the settlement was reached. This summons was served as far back as 2020. After Standard Bank’s defense was filed, for more than 5 years Dr. Hammond, her daughter, and the Trust have not taken any steps to progress their alleged claims.

• The summons that was issued in 2020 does not contain the bulk of the allegations that she is now spreading in her videos. The reason for this is obvious. If there was any truth to the allegations that she is now levelling, all of these allegations would have been made at the time that the summons in 2020 was delivered, and they would have taken steps to have the alleged claims determined.  They have not done so.

• Standard Bank denies that it conceded in court that a fraud had been perpetrated. This too was not alleged by Dr. Hammond, her daughter or the Trust in the 2020 summons.