AfriForum establishes investigative unit against corruption and other crimes: New revelations on Malema and On Point Engineering at media conference tomorrow

Civil rights watchdog AfriForum has established its own investigative unit to investigate corruption and other crimes which enjoy public interest. This investigative unit will focus especially on cases where corruption take place with tax payers' money, as well as cases where the South African Police Service (SAPS) are not fulfilling their duty, abuse their power and/or make unlawful arrests. The AfriForum investigative unit also plans private prosecution in cases where the government refuses to prosecute suspects, despite sufficient evidence.

Nantes Kelder, a former detective at the SAPS and the special investigation team for the National Director of Public Prosecutions, and who also worked at the Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA), will be the head of AfriForum's investigative unit. Kelder will vacate his current position as AfriForum's head of community safety to give his full attention to the investigative unit's activities. AfriForum's investigative unit will also make use of the services of a wide range of forensic specialists on an ad hoc basis.

According to Kelder, AfriForum was compelled to establish an investigative unit, since members of the public increasingly contacted AfriForum with information regarding corruption in the government and complaints regarding negligence and abuse of power by members of the SAPS.

Kelder indicated that AfriForum's investigative unit does not intend to take over the SAPS' role, but to work in addition to SAPS' activities. According to Kelder, evidence gathered by the unit in crime investigations will be submitted to the SAPS to ensure that criminals may be prosecuted.

"AfriForum looks forward to working with committed members of the police who are doing their jobs well despite the group of rotten apples who can also be found in the SAPS," Kelder said. According to Kelder, private prosecution is the last resort, and it will only take place if the SAPS and the National Prosecuting Authority do not fulfil their duties.

AfriForum's investigative unit is already busy with its first investigation. The investigation focuses on the activities of On Point Engineers, a company of which Julius Malema's Ratanang Family Trust is a shareholder and which is involved with awarding tenders in Limpopo.

At a press conference tomorrow, AfriForum's investigative unit will reveal new information which has come to light during the investigation of On Point and Julius Malema.

Statement issue by AfriForum, August 24 2011

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