Malema – Page 2 – praag.org

Government is trying to silence me: Juju

Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema insisted on Wednesday that money-laundering charges against him were part of a plot to silence him.

“I am aware that senior government officials… have agitated law enforcement authorities to expedite my arrest and detain me as a means of trying to silence and disrupt the political activities I am involved in,” he said in a statement.

“Attempts to silence our political activities and involvement will never succeed because we carry a revolutionary obligation to speak on behalf of the oppressed and downtrodden masses.”

Malema said he would visit mineworkers in the North West on Thursday to pledge support for their wage protests.

“The struggle for economic freedom is in motion and no amount of suppression and intimidation will silence us,” he said.

“Attempts to banish us and isolate us from the ANC have never succeeded and… [will] never succeed.”

Malema was granted bail of R10,000 by the Polokwane Regional Court on Wednesday.

He was officially charged with money-laundering, for allegedly “receiving proceeds from unlawful activities”.

The affidavit he made in support of his application for bail was not read out in court. The case was postponed to November 30.

Malema said it was “conclusively irresponsible” for the State to issue a warrant of arrest and to take him to court, when it could not produce a docket to justify its charges.

“The rushing of the charging seems to be inspired by other considerations than justice,” he said.

“It is very strange that some political leaders, who are compromised and insisted that my arrest be expedited, are the ones who should respond to more than 700 charges of corruption, fraud and money-laundering.”

Earlier, Malema told supporters outside the court that they needed to make sure President Jacob Zuma was not re-elected at the ANC’s national conference in Mangaung at the end of the year.

“We must make sure Jacob Zuma does not become [remain] president of the ANC… Remove him as a president,” he said.

“Zuma has 700 charges against him. I only have one.”

In his statement, Malema said the “rule of law” could not be undermined by people with political power.

“All South Africans, including Jacob Zuma, should be equal before the law,” he said.

The ANC on Wednesday denied accusations that the charges brought against axed youth league leader Julius Malema were politically motivated.

“We reject this accusation with contempt, as it is misleading and seeking to undermine the rule of law and jurisprudence of the country,” spokesman Jackson Mthembu said in a statement.

“We want to appeal to our structures and to all South Africans to refrain from using inflammatory and unsubstantiated accusations against the ANC and the government agencies.”

The African National Congress in Limpopo and the ANC Youth League have accused the ruling party of using the charges against Malema to fight political battles.

Mthembu said: “In relation to charges favoured against [Malema] we want to state it categorically that the ANC, its president comrade Jacob Zuma and its leadership have no role in the charges.”

Malema appeared in the Polokwane Regional Court on Wednesday.

He was charged with money-laundering and granted bail of R10,000. The case was postponed until November 30.

The ANC called on those who had evidence of the abuse of state powers and its agencies to submit evidence in court as part of the defence.

Mthembu said the ANC was confident that the court would do its job without political motivation.

“It is evident that anybody that suggests the abuse of state powers is trying to water down the implications inherent in the charges and prejudging the case before it has even started,” he said.

“Let’s allow the law to take its course, and presume everyone appearing before the courts innocent until proven guilty.” – Sapa

Malema ‘intentionally took money’

Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema is accused of making nearly R4 million from corrupt activities, in papers filed in the Polokwane Magistrate’s Court.

“The accused [Malema] did unlawfully and intentionally acquire ownership… of the amount of money,” according to the charge sheet.

Malema did this “well knowing” — or ought to have reasonably known –that the money “formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activities”, it alleged.

He appeared in court on Wednesday on a charge of money-laundering, and was released on bail of R10,000.

According to the court papers, Malema had clear business ties with On-Point Engineers director Lesiba Gwangwa.

It was alleged that On-Point was fraudulently awarded a R53m tender by the Limpopo department of roads and transport, and that R43m of this had been paid by the department.

“During September 2009 the Limpopo department… identified the need for the establishment of a Programme Management Unit (PMU) to assist it with infrastructure, as the department did not allegedly have the capacity to manage this function.”

The charge sheet stated that the company’s services were to be used for three years as a PMU.

It was required that the company’s management be multi-disciplinary, consisting of architects, land surveyors and engineers.

The company also needed to have experience and knowledge in the design and construction of roads, traffic stations, overload control, cost centres and airport infrastructure.

However, it was alleged that On-Point was not multi-disciplinary, and that the people whose names it submitted as part of its executive were never employed by the company.

On-Point was accused of pretending to have extensive experience and knowledge, when in fact it had existed for only one month at the time it submitted its bid.

It had stated on its tender application that it had nine years of experience.

According to the charge sheet, Malema substantially benefited from the tender payment, using it to fund a farm worth R3.9m and to pay R382,655 for a Mercedez-Benz Viano.

Charges of corruption were brought against On-Point, Gwama Properties, Segwalo Engineering, and Oceanside Trading.

On Tuesday, four people, including Malema’s business associate Lesiba Gwangwa, appeared in court and were granted bail of R40,000 each.

They are accused of fraud, corruption and money-laundering relating to the tender.

Malema will appear in court again on November 30.

Malema granted bail

Expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema was granted bail of R10,000 by the Polokwane Regional Court on Wednesday.

Malema was officially charged with money-laundering, for allegedly “receiving proceeds from unlawful activities”.

The affidavit he made in support of his application for bail was not read out in court. The case was postponed to November 30.

Malema appeared with his business partner and co-accused Selbie Manthatha.

An affidavit by Manthatha was read to the court by his counsel. It detailed his family life, his business and his assets.

Before Malema’s affidavit could be read, the court adjourned for five minutes.

When the case reconvened, bail was immediately granted to both of them.

Hawks’ spokesman McIntosh Polela said the charge against Malema should not be taken lightly.

“Money-laundering is not a frivolous charge, and it can incur a sentence of 15 years.”

He said there had been a lot of speculation in the media of more charges being brought against Malema, but this was not true.

Polela would not comment on the trial, and said he would prefer the case to be allowed to run its course.

Supporters clung to the gates outside the court waiting for feedback on the decision about Malema’s bail.

Hearing that it had been granted, they broke into song and dance.

Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said no incidents of violence were reported.

“The crowd is very orderly and I hope it will remain smooth like this throughout the day.”

The crowd outside had swelled to nearly 1000 people in anticipation of an address by Malema.

Supporters of Malema welcomed him into the court on Wednesday with song and dance.

Malema’s family and supporters stood up in court and sang loudly when he entered the dock.

They sang: “Asani mahloni” [We are not ashamed]. Court officials did not stop the singing.

Suspended African National Congress Youth League spokesman Floyd Shivambu, suspended secretary general Sindiso Magaqa and senior ANCYL members joined the dancing.

Earlier, journalists, photographers and television camera crews were kicked out of the court.

Despite applications by certain media houses to be allowed into the court, reporters were removed by officials who insisted the applications were for individuals and not crews.

Pandemonium broke out when the journalists were forcibly removed. One was dragged out by two security guards.

eNews Channel Africa reporter Karyn Maughan collapsed outside the court.

Riot police were deployed inside the court to keep order.

Some journalists were later allowed back inside.

Supporters outside the court were adamant that Malema had done nothing wrong.

“There is nothing wrong [with what]… our leader did. If he did anything wrong why [is this case happening] now?” asked a supporter.

“It is because we are going to Mangaung. This is just a plan to sabotage our leader.”

Thulani Motsepe, 23, from Germiston said he took a taxi to Polokwane on Tuesday because he felt he needed to show the world that Malema was innocent.

Malema’s supporters believed their presence would have an impact on the charges against him.

“I came all the way from the inner city branch in Johannesburg, just to prove that there is no case against my leader,” said 27-year-old Xolelwa Ngele.

A placard carried by supporters read: “hands-off our leader, he did nothing wrong”.

When Malema arrived at the court, some of his supporters ran towards the court fence, jostling to get a glimpse of him.

Lethabo Mandela, 57, from Seshego joined the crowed in song and dance. She said she was prepared to die for Malema.

“Julius, I love you and I will support you until I die. I’m prepared to die for you. Police can come and kill me,” said Mandela, who joined the ANC in 1984.

She said charges against Malema should be dropped, like the corruption charges against President Jacob Zuma.

“If they can do it to Zuma they must also do it with Julius.”

The crowd sang songs in favour of Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe, while mocking Zuma.

Nearly 600 supporters gathered outside the court.

Roads leading to the court were closed on Wednesday and police were monitoring the situation.

There was barbed wire outside the court and police Nyalas were positioned in various places surrounding the court.

Hundreds of Malema supporters sang and danced outside the courthouse. The crowd was expected to swell as the day progressed.

Others sat on the pavement, and leaned against the walls after participating in a night vigil for Malema on Tuesday.

Provincial ANCYL spokesman Klaas Mabunda claimed the crowd numbered 14,000 at 3am.

“Most of them are not here now. They have gone to town to get food because they are hungry.”

Malema is accused of money-laundering. The charge sheet lists him as accused number 10.

On Tuesday, four of his co-accused appeared in court and were granted bail of R40,000 each.

They are accused of fraud, corruption and money-laundering, relating to a R52 million tender awarded to On-Point Engineers. Four companies were also charged.

Malema handed himself over to the Polokwane police on Wednesday morning, before his court appearance, reported SABC. – Sapa

Chaos as journo’s are forcibly removed from Malema trial

malemaguns — One of Malema's hired guns at an earlier court appearance

Journalists, photographers and television camera crews were kicked out of the Polokwane Regional Court where expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema was appearing.

Earlier, certain media houses made applications to be allowed into the court, but reporters were removed after officials insisted that the applications were for individuals and not crews.

However, according to a Sapa reporter on the scene, no journalists remained in the court.

Pandemonium broke out when the journalists were forcibly removed. One was dragged out by two security guards.

eNews Channel Africa reporter Karyn Maughan collapsed outside the court.

Riot police were deployed inside the court to keep order.

Supporters of expelled ANC Youth League president Julius Malema said he had done nothing wrong, ahead of his appearance.