Lungani Zungu
EFF leader Julius Malema faces another headache apart from Monday’s elections.
Is it alleged that two companies associated with Malema, including one with EFF secretary-general Marshall Dlamini, may have benefitted to the tune of R15 million from a fuel tender awarded by the DA-run City of Tshwane worth around half a billion rand in 2019.
The Hawks have launched an investigation.
The tender was initially awarded to Balimi Barui Trading, MDZ Holdings and Rheinland Investment CC.
From there, R15 million allegedly flowed to companies linked to Malema and Dlamini.
Mahuna Investments, led by Malema’s cousin, Matsobane Phaleng, and Santaclara Trading, whose founding director in 2013 was Tebatso Malema, were linked to Malema.
DMM Media and Entertainment, a company owned by Dlamini’s close relative, Wesley Dlamini, is alleged to also have benefited.
Both have rubbished these claims.
At the time the tender was issued, the EFF was in coalition with the DA in Tshwane – a partnership that dislodged the ANC from power in 2016.
Since the collapse of their “marriage”, DA leader John Steenhuisen said his party would never be in coalition with the EFF again.
“We have made it clear that we will no longer work with the EFF because they want to fund their lifestyles using taxpayers money,” he told Scrolla.Africa.
In June 2020, the Pretoria High Court set aside the tender, citing the irrational and unfair way in which it was evaluated, according to amaBhungane, an investigative journalism organisation.
The Hawks have confirmed that they are investigating this case, but didn’t say whether they would investigate Malema and Dlamini.
“We cannot at this stage divulge more information into what the investigation is looking into,” a Hawks spokesperson was quoted as saying.
Malema will take his campaign trail to Kahlehong in Gauteng on Friday.
