AFRIFORUM ASKS HAWKS TO INVESTIGATE LATEST REVELATIONS RE MALEMA

AfriForum will request the Hawks' investigating team that is currently investigating AfriForum's complaint of corruption against Julius Malema, also to investigate the payment of R1,2 million to Malema by the businessman, Steve Bosch (see Sunday Times report).

AfriForum's request follows after revelations in the Sunday Times that Bosch had made two payments on behalf of Malema to the value of R1,2 million to Aurielo Cimato, the architect building Malema's multimillion home in Sandton.

Bosch's company succeeded in obtaining tenders to the value of millions, while Malema has admitted that his Ratanang Family Trust is a shareholder in On-Point Engineering, a company involved in the awarding of tenders by Limpopo's Department of Roads and Transport.

According to Kallie Kriel, CEO of AfriForum, this request to the Hawks comes in addition to his company's initial charge of corruption against Malema, which the Hawks are currently investigating.

AfriForum initially laid the charge against Malema after City Press and Rapport had reported that Malema allegedly uses the Ratanang Family Trust as a medium to receive payment from businessmen in exchange for Malema's assistance to secure government tenders.

It is also alleged that businessman Matome Hlamboa, who obtained government tenders in Limpopo to the value of approximately R200 million, provides Malema with a vehicle to the value of R1,2 million and also did him a number of other favours.

Kriel indicated that AfriForum is determined to ensure that politicians who abuse their contacts to enrich themselves at the cost of the poor, will be held accountable.

* AfriForum's case number for the charge of corruption against Malema is MAS 747/7/2011.

Statement issued by Kallie Kriel CEO: AfriForum, August 14 2011

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