Parliament must probe Limpopo University's links to Malema
Parliament must probe reports that the University of Limpopo is using multi-million rand tenders to fund the allies of expelled ANC Youth League Leader, Julius Malema, thereby indirectly supporting his current social destabilisation campaign.
The Mail & Guardian revealed on Friday that the Limpopo University awarded a R27.8 million tender to Malema's former driver, Collins Foromo, through his company TC Foromo Trading Enterprise. The cost is reportedly set to increase to R60 million over three phases.
The university also awarded a lucrative three-year lease for dining facilities to Manla Seopela, a founder of the Friends of the Youth League, through his company Bohlaleng Foods.
A university council member apparently raised concerns regarding the lack of transparent and accountable tender processes, claiming that the subcommittee responsible for awarding large contracts does not keep detailed records of its decisions.
I will be writing to the chairperson of the Higher Education Portfolio committee, Mr Motswane Ishmael Malale, to request that the University of Limpopo council, including the vice-chancellor Nehemiah Mokgalong and the marketing and communications director, Kgalema Mohuba, be called before the Portfolio Committee on Higher Education to account for the awarding of these tenders.
Given the three active investigations into Julius Malema's own finances and questions raised about the sources of funding for his current national campaign to spread labour protests around South African mines, the sources of funding for the Friends of the Youth League warrants careful scrutiny. If a higher education institution is channelling public funds to political organisations it must be stopped immediately.
Universities and higher education institutions must not be dragged into the destructive in-fighting in the ANC in the run-up to Mangaung. Malema's war-chest cannot be filled at the expense of the South African public. Parliament must step in to protect the independence of our educational institutions.
Statement issued by Annelie Lotriet MP, DA Shadow Minister of Higher Education, September 24 2012
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