Probe Malema graft claims, YCLSA urges
2011-08-17 21:41
Johannesburg - Corruption allegations against ANCYL president Julius Malema must be investigated, the Young Communist League of SA (YCLSA) said on Wednesday.
"All these corruption allegations pose a threat to the unity of the alliance," national spokesperson Mafika Mndebele said in a statement, referring to the ANC, SACP and Cosatu.
"We are emphatically convinced that these allegations should be investigated."
Claims that he was receiving kickbacks for awarding tenders were part of efforts to remove Malema from power and a threat to "our revolution".
Mndebele said the media had portrayed Malema as a "corrupt spoiled brat" who used his call for nationalisation to destabilise President Jacob Zuma while benefiting from privatisation in Limpopo, his home province.
"As a matter of principle the [YCLSA], opposes the trial which is initiated, conducted and concluded in the media," Mndebele said.
"We would like to call upon the people of South Africa to uphold the principle of presumption of innocent till proven guilty...particularly because the president of the ANCYL has not been called before the court."
Earlier this month the City Press newspaper reported that Malema was using a secret family trust to finance his lifestyle.
It also reported that a company he partly owned, SGL Engineering Projects, was directly benefiting from multi-million-rand construction tenders it had helped to award.
The Sunday Times reported that Malema was paid R1.2m, through a Johannesburg architect, Steve Bosch, who was building his home in Sandton.
The report indicated Bosch had secured tenders worth tens of millions of rands in Limpopo.
- SAPA
