EFF leader Julius Malema has insisted neither he nor any of his party’s leaders have been implicated in wrongdoing at the Madlanga Commission, dismissing testimony and allegations linking him to security tenders and an alleged criminal “Big 5” cartel as politically motivated “nonsense”.
Briefing the media at the EFF’s headquarters, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela House in Johannesburg, on Thursday, Malema addressed growing questions about references to him and the EFF in evidence before the commission.
EFF leader Julius Malema briefed the media on Thursday and spoke on allegations that have surfaced at the Madlanga Commission concerning him and the EFF.
He opened his remarks by flatly rejecting the suggestion that any EFF official had been shown, through evidence or testimony, to be involved in corruption or criminality linked to the inquiry.
Julius Malema says no EFF leader has been implicated by evidence or testimony before the Madlanga Commission.
Malema dismissed testimony from Fannie Nkosi about a “red beret” list of security companies.
Malema also rejected claims of involvement in the so-called Big 5 cartel, saying he is suing Patriotic Alliance’s Kenny Kunene.
No EFF leader has been implicated in the allegations stemming from the Madlanga Commission, according to the party’s president, Julius Malema.
“There is no one in the Madlanga Commission who implicated the EFF,” he told journalists.
“People are implicating each other. If you listen with excitement, you may miss a small detail.”
At the heart of the current controversy is WhatsApp evidence, revealed at the commission on 19 March, which suggests Tshwane chief financial officer Gareth Mnisi was expected to get Malema to “verify” that seven security companies had EFF backing to win a city security tender.
The commission, on 19 March, revealed WhatsApp evidence that Tshwane chief financial officer Gareth Mnisi was tasked with ensuring that Malema “verify” that seven security companies had EFF support to win a security tender.
These messages emerged alongside testimony from Pretoria police officer Sergeant Fannie Nkosi, who spoke of the “red berets” and the “CIC” – Malema’s title as EFF commander-in-chief – in relation to Tshwane security tenders.
Pretoria cop Fannie Nkosi testified about the “red berets” and “CIC”, short for commander-in-chief, Malema’s official title in the EFF, in relation to the security tenders in Tshwane.
Malema, however, dismissed Nkosi – whom he derisively referred to as “that clown called ‘007’” – and argued that, properly interpreted, the evidence shows others throwing the EFF’s name around, not the EFF directing any scheme.
“Let’s take that clown called ‘007’ [Nkosi]. He says he received a list of companies from the deputy chief of police [with regards to the tender], who asked if the list comes from the ‘red berets’.”
He added: “They never said they got a list from the red berets.
“Nkosi and [deputy police chief Shadrack Sibiya] said someone brought a list and said it’s from the red berets.
“They never said the red berets sent us their list,” he said.
According to Malema, this distinction is crucial: the evidence points to others allegedly plotting to “steal” and invoking his name, he says, rather than any proven involvement by him or his party.
“The two crooks are talking about how they’re going to steal, and they put the CIC [Malema’s] name in all of that. That’s the end of the story. They leave it hanging.”
He further criticised the commission for not testing the “red berets” list directly with the EFF.
He said the commission has not verified with the EFF whether the “red berets” list belongs to the party.
“If you call that ‘implicated’, then you need to go back to Grade 1,” Malema said.
Therefore, he said, this does not implicate the EFF or any of its leaders.
“There is no one in the EFF who is a player in the whole nonsense. People are robbing each other and throwing the EFF’s name [into it].”
Malema added:
“I don’t engage in criminal activities.”
Turning to claims about his relationship with businessman Ze Nxumalo, whose name repeatedly features in evidence at the Madlanga Commission, Malema acknowledged knowing him socially but rejected any sinister interpretation of their association.
On his links to controversial businessman Ze Nxumalo, Malema said he knew him from when Nxumalo was a socialite in the northern suburbs of Johannesburg.
Malema said Nxumalo is the son of an IFP leader and co-founder, and his wedding was attended by powerful white people, but links to Nxumalo are only being made against Malema.
“Because he knows Malema, let’s make it look like a crime,” Malema said, mocking the allegations.
Malema also addressed, at length, accusations by Patriotic Alliance (PA) deputy president Kenny Kunene – made both publicly and in sworn statements – that he is linked to a criminal enterprise referred to at the commission as the “Big 5” cartel.
Malema has also been accused by Patriotic Alliance deputy president, Kenny Kunene, in sworn statements, of having links to a criminal enterprise, referred to as the “Big 5” in testimony before the commission.
Those allegations include claims that Malema had a relationship with the late taxi boss Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi, portrayed in evidence as a key figure in the alleged cartel.
On allegations linking Malema to the late notorious taxi boss, Jothan “Mswazi” Msibi, he said Kunene could “say whatever nonsense”, but he must repeat the allegations in court.
Malema said he’s suing Kunene for claiming the EFF leader is “at the centre of the cartel, meaning, by implication, that Big 5 drug cartel you’re looking for, I’m one of them”.
Responding to specific claims that he paid Msibi R80 000 and gifted him a bottle of high-end Macallan whisky as a form of protection payment, Malema ridiculed the logic behind the allegation.
Responding to the allegation by Kunene that Malema paid R80 000 to Mswazi and a high-end McCallan whiskey bottle, Malema said: “How can I pay protection fees to myself? He said I’m the cartel. I take money to pay myself and ask myself, ‘please protect myself, no one must attack me’.
“I seek protection from no one.”
Malema confirmed that he had been to Msibi’s farm and spoke at his funeral – something former police minister Bheki Cele previously confirmed at the parliamentary ad hoc committee probing KwaZulu-Natal provincial police head Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations.
Malema confirmed he had been at Msibi’s farm, where he spoke at the funeral, as former police minister Bheki Cele stated during an appearance before the ad hoc committee investigating KwaZulu-Natal provincial police head Lieutenant General Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s allegations.
“Why should it be a story now, now that someone mentions it the second time?” Malema asked.
He explained that he had met Msibi through Nxumalo, and that his interactions with the taxi boss revolved around negotiating transport fares for EFF supporters and events.
In reference to Msibi, Malema said he knew “the old man” through Nxumalo.
He said later Nxumalo held a party where Malema saw there was “something about this man”, Msibi, to whom he would be introduced later.
“I never went to Msibi with a bottle. I never went to Msibi with money.”
Malema said he used to negotiate taxi transport fares for his constituency at the farm or at a hotel, and that he liked Msibi for his brain as he was an ardent reader.
For Malema, the wave of allegations surfacing at the Madlanga Commission and in political opponents’ sworn statements is less about evidence and more about an effort to taint him and the EFF ahead of key political battles.
He insists that unless and until any commission witness can show direct involvement by him or any EFF leader in corrupt dealings or criminal enterprises, the party remains untainted – and that he intends to use the courts, including his defamation suit against Kunene, to fight back against what he calls a campaign of fabrication.
