Defiant Malema turns corruption guns on Zuma

Malema, who paid R10 000 bail following yesterday's appearance in the Polokwane Regional Court, remains as defiant and, outwardly at least, as confidant as ever. After his money-laundering case had been postponed to 30 November, Malema turned on President Jacob Zuma, notes a Mail & Guardian Online report. With apparent reference to Zuma's corruption case, and to Zuma's former financial adviser, he said he would co-operate with law enforcement authorities and would not seek to delay court proceedings. 'It is very strange that some political leaders who are compromised and insisted that my arrest be expedited are the ones who should respond to more than 700 charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering with an almost 100% chance of conviction because the corruptor has already been convicted and sentenced to a prison term.' This, notes the report, was a reference to what Judge Hillary Squires once termed the 'generally corrupt' relationship between Zuma and convicted fraudster Schabir Shaik. Full Mail & Guardian Online report

Malema also dismissed the charge as 'not so serious', a claim that drew responses from both the Hawks and the ANC yesterday. 'Money-laundering is not a frivolous charge, and it can incur a sentence of 15 years,' Hawks spokesperson McIntosh Polela said, according to a report in The Citizen. He said the charge - which relates to a R52m tender awarded to On-Point Engineers - should not be taken lightly. Malema, listed as 'accused 10' on the charge sheet, was earlier in the day officially charged in court for the schedule one offence. His co-accused, Selbie Manthatha, was charged with corruption, which is a schedule five offence. Full report in The Citizen

ANC spokesperson Jackson Mthembu said Malema should not 'water down' the seriousness of his case by claiming political interference, notes a report on the News24 site. Mthembu said anybody that suggests the abuse of state powers is trying to water down the implications inherent in the charges and prejudging the case. He said Malema has 'a right to defence' but his charges 'will be tested in the court of law given their competency'. He called on all those who claimed to have evidence of the abuse of state power or law enforcement agencies to submit the evidence as part of Malema's defence. This came after the ANC's Limpopo leadership and the ANC Youth League in statements this week claimed that Zuma and Ministers from the security cluster were behind the charges. Full report on the News24 site

Malema made his millions from a fraudulent and possibly corrupt tender, says Public Protector Thuli Madonsela. City Press reports that it has obtained a copy of Madonsela's provisional report into the R52m tender won by On-Point Engineers from the Limpopo roads and transport department. Malema's Ratanang Family Trust is one of two shareholders in On-Point. The report says although Madonsela couldn't find any evidence that Malema interfered in the tendering process, she found that his trust benefited 'improperly' from the contract and that legal action should be taken to recover the money he received. Madonsela recommends that the tender be immediately cancelled; that the NPA and the Asset Forfeiture Unit urgently consider criminal action; and that the Master of the High Court investigate the flow of money into Malema's trust. Full City Press report See also a report on the IoL site

Meanwhile, the DA wants a probe into the University of Limpopo after reports that two men linked to the Friends of the Youth League benefited from contracts, notes a Mail & Guardian Online report. DA spokesperson Annelie Lotriet said that she would write to Motswane Ishmael Malale, chair of the portfolio committee to ask for an investigation. The university council, including the vice-chancellor Nehemiah Mokgalong and marketing director Kgalema Mohuba, needed to explain how the tenders were awarded, Lotriet said. The M&G had earlier reported that the University of Limpopo was oiling the wheels of the patronage machine around Malema through two multimillion-rand contracts handed to his close associates. The beneficiaries, Mandla Seopela and Collins Foromo, are linked to the Friends of the Youth League, which Malema and his allies set up as an alternative structure to the ANC Youth League after his expulsion from the ANC. Full Mail & Guardian Online report

The SA Revenue Service can now attach Malema's assets, if he fails to pay the R16m he owes in tax, says an Eyewitness News report. SARS confirmed that it obtained a judgment against Malema earlier in September following two years of fruitless discussions with him. The tax judgment was unopposed but SARS said Malema had the option of appealing. The fiery politician's money affairs had been a headache for the revenue service. Full Eyewitness News report