Malema may soon face fraud charges - report

It says the Hawks are investigating, among others, the Ratanang Family Trust, named after his son, which Malema allegedly used as a conduit for bribes, a company owned by Maropeng Ramohlale, the mother of his son, and others that are run by Malema's friends. The Sunday Independent says it was informed that several of Malema's acquaintances had approached the Hawks requesting co-operation, instead of being arrested. 'We have told them to wait, because, frankly, we do not need them to prove our case against him. A decision on whether they will be charged separately later or will testify against him will be taken later,' the paper quotes its source as saying. The source reportedly told the paper the case against Malema relied heavily on SMSes exchanged between him and several businessmen. 'You must know that businessmen do not want to spend a day in prison. Once you visit them, they tell you the whole story and produce the evidence to corroborate their story,' said the source. Investigators have not interviewed Malema on the matter yet. Full report in The Sunday Independent

Yesterday a Hawks' spokesperson refused to comment on whether Malema was to be arrested upon his return from Mauritius where he was attending a lavish wedding bash. 'As a matter of protocol, we don't comment on ongoing investigations,' McIntosh Polela is quoted as saying in The Citizen. He declined to say when the probe would be completed. Full report in The Citizen

Meanwhile, the Sunday Times says Limpopo Premier Cassel Mathale's government is being investigated for alleged fraud and corruption running into hundreds of millions of rands. It notes a group of disgruntled businessmen have given the authorities a dossier on 'irregular tenders' allegedly handed out in the province. The Forum of Limpopo Entrepreneurs also wants Mathale - a key ally of Malema - to be investigated amid claims that the Premier influenced tenders in various provincial departments. The case has been allocated to the Anti-Corruption Task Team, which comprises the Hawks, the Special Investigating Unit, the Asset Forfeiture Unit and the NPA. A report on the News24 site notes Hawks spokesperson Polela confirmed that allegations of fraud and corruption were being investigated. 'The case has to do with allegations of fraud and corruption, especially in the Departments of Health and Transport,' Polela said. Full Sunday Times report Full report on the News24 site See also: Web of corruption revealed in North West (in The Times)