Jim won't address Malema supporters - Numsa
2012-09-26 08:41
Johannesburg - Numsa has dismissed rumours that its general secretary Irvin Jim will address supporters of expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema at the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Wednesday.
"Comrade Irvin Jim will not address a crowd or sympathisers of Julius Malema when he appears in court. He won't be there. He is not part of that," said National Union of Metalworkers of SA (Numsa) spokesperson Castro Ngobese.
Ngobese said the union had received a number of enquiries from media houses asking whether Jim would address the Friends of the Youth League (FYL).
He dismissed the rumour as a blatant lie, and said it was an attempt by the FYL to position Jim as a part of the organisation.
"Further, the general secretary of Numsa both in his private and official capacities has no relationship with the FYL. In a similar vein, Numsa has no political relations with FYL," Ngobese said.
Earlier Malema arrived at the Polokwane police station and handed himself in, according to reports from the scene.
He is due to appear in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Wednesday on money-laundering charges involving R4m.
Roads leading to the court were closed as police monitored the situation ahead of Malema's appearance.
There was barbed wire outside the court and police Nyalas were positioned in various places surrounding the court. Police patrolled the road.
Scores of Malema supporters sang and danced outside the courthouse and the crowd was expected to swell as the day progressed.
The media had set up equipment on roads leading to the court.
Four other people, including Malema's business associate Lesiba Gwangwa, appeared on Tuesday on charges including fraud and corruption.
They allegedly misrepresented themselves to the Limpopo department of roads and transport in respect of a R52m tender, which was awarded to On-Point Engineers.
The fraud charges also related to designs owned by the department.
- SAPA
