Mickeys

Since he was elected president of the ANC Youth League two years ago, Julius Malema has apparently not paid any tax.

Julius Malema

In addition, not one of the four companies of which he was still a registered director and shareholder, complied with tax regulations.

It also transpired that his engineering company SGL at the end of last year was awarded an additional 13 contracts by the Polokwane municipality.

This was apart from the tenders of more than R140m that SGL received from another eight municipalities in Limpopo between 2007 and 2009.

An inquiry last month found that construction on all of these contracts was extremely shoddy or never completed.

ID leader Patricia De Lille learned confidentially that Malema’s companies also had not received certificates to verify that their tax matters were in order.

City Press apparently learned that the SA Revenue Service has appointed a senior investigation team to look into Malema’s affairs.

Malema recently said that Sars was welcome to investigate him and said he was being targeted.

taken from News24

ANC Youth leader Julius Malema, who claimed that he has “never seen a million rand”, bought his first house for R1m cash and put down a deposit of at least R2.1m on his second one.

ANCYL president Julius Malema's house in Sandown, which he bought for R3.6m in 2009.

Deeds office records show that Malema bought a R1m house in Polokwane in May 2007 without the assistance of a home loan.

Only about two years later, in February 2009, did he take out a bond of R850 000 on that property.

“That means that when he bought the house in 2007 he had the money available to buy it cash,” said Faan Coetzee, a lawyer.

On Monday during a media conference Malema, responding to allegations about his extravagant lifestyle, said he cannot afford to pay cash for a house and that he is paying off his property monthly just like any other “young working person”.

In August last year, four months after the Zuma government took over, Malema’s financial situation improved to such an extent that without selling the other property he was able to buy another expensive house in Sandown, Johannesburg for R3.6m.

This time he did take out a bond, but for only R1.5m.

That means he had to pay at least R2.1m out of his own pocket.

A property expert consulted by Beeld said that conveyancing fees and transfer duties would have amounted to about R200 000, which means that Malema’s deposit was probably closer to about R2.3m.

Coetzee said Malema would have had to pay the amount to a lawyer in the form of cash or a bank guarantee.

AfriForum youth leader Ernst Roets said this information raises new questions about Malema’s business interests.

“If Julius Malema’s only income is his ANC salary, as he claims, the question is how he could have afforded a deposit of more than R2m. If he didn’t pay it, one wonders who did.”

According to the deeds office records the previous owner of Malema’s house bought the property for R305 000 in 1998.

Property expert Erwin Rode said the most likely explanation for the apparent “excessive growth” in 11 years is that the previous owner bought a vacant plot and then built the house on it.

(continue reading…)

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema’s lavish lifestyle is being bankrolled by lucrative government contracts awarded to his companies, the Sunday Times reported on Sunday.

Julius Malema

Some of the multi-million rand tenders awarded to Malema’s companies were from Limpopo, his home province, the paper reported.

Citing official tender and government documents, the paper reported that Malema’s companies were awarded more than 20 contracts, each worth between R500 000 and R39m between 2007 and 2008.

One of the companies, a small engineering firm, profited from more than R130m worth of tenders in just two years.

SGL Engineering Projects, which Malema co-owns with Lesiba Gwangwa, was awarded projects ranging from road and pavement construction to bulk water supply and upgrading cemeteries.

While public documents reveal that some of the projects were completed on schedule, the majority of them were not, the paper reported.

Malema is believed to have used his share of the profits to finance two luxury homes worth about R4.6m.

Contacted for comment regarding the tenders by the Sunday Times, Malema said: “What gives you the power to ask me that question? Let me tell you, I do not owe you any answer, to be honest. I am not accountable to you… I am accountable to the ANCYL and ANC. My organisations have never raised any concerns about those things”.

Malema went on to say “there is no law that says politicians can’t be businessmen”.

ANCYL spokesperson Floyd Shivambu declined to comment on the story, saying he hasn’t seen the paper yet.

“I can’t comment on things I haven’t seen even if you can explain (the story). Call me on Sunday when I have seen the story,” Shivambu said.

taken from News24

ANC Youth League president Julius Malema owns two houses worth almost R5m and cars worth R1.2m, on an alleged salary of R20 000 a month.

Julius Malema

The Star on Friday reported that Malema paid R3.6m in cash for a three-bedroom home in Sandown, Johannesburg, in December last year.

He has another home in Polokwane, for which he paid R1m in cash.

The report said the Sandown home was luxurious, with three bedrooms, an office, a TV room, a lounge, a pool and a large garden.

It was here that Malema entertained guests at a house-warming party last year which hit headlines after a police reservist said he was assaulted by the youth league leader.

This was after neighbours complained about the noise and mess.

Guests were entertained by YFM DJ Oskido and drank Johnnie Walker Gold Label whisky, which costs around R700 a bottle, and Moet et Chandon French champagne.

When approached for comment by The Star, Malema reacted angrily.

“You and your husband and your family – that’s who you need to write about. You go away, just go away,” he told the paper.

League spokesperson Floyd Shivambu said the paper was being nonsensical.

“I think you need to rethink what you are doing. What business is this of yours? How dare you call me and ask for comment on this?”

The report quotes sources in the league who place Malema’s salary at around R20 000 per month.

As the transfer of the Sandown house went through, Malema went to a press conference wearing a Gucci suit and a Breitling watch worth about R250 000.

He also owns a black Mercedes-Benz AMG, which retails at R734 000, and reportedly drives an Aston Martin and a red Range Rover Sport. He attended a Wits University lecture on Thursday in a brand-new white Range Rover – with no number plates – which sells for R1.2m.

The controversial youth league president who is spearheading efforts for the nationalisation of South African mines, is the director of four companies according to the report: 101 Junjus Trading CC, Blue Nightingale Trading 61, Ever Roaring Investment and SGL Engineering Projects.

taken from News24

The ANCYL does not want President Jacob Zuma’s support in its bid for nationalisation, it wants the support of the masses, its leader Julius Malema said on Thursday.

Julius Malema

“We don’t care who says what. Nationalisation will become the policy of the ANC,” he said during a memorial lecture at Johannesburg’s Wits University, commemorating former president Nelson Mandela’s release from prison 20 years ago.

“We don’t want Zuma’s or [Deputy Police Minister Fikile] Mbalula’s support… we want the support of the masses. If the masses say you are correct, we will march on,” Malema said.

On Tuesday, during debate on his state of the-nation address in parliament, Zuma told opposition parties nationalisation of mines was not government policy.

Malema, however, was determined to influence ANC branches to make nationalisation party policy, which would then filter into the government.

He was addressing a packed hall where he was received with thunderous applause and enthusiastic song and dance. Ahead of Malema’s address, his audience watched a video clip of an interview with Nelson Mandela, filmed shortly after his release from prison.

In the interview, Mandela said nationalisation was part of the country’s history and he did not understand how privatisation was being justified. It would benefit only those with the resources to buy into those industries, he said. Mandela said whites decided the only way to control the country’s blacks was to privatise.

In his speech, Malema described the current ANC leadership as “sweethearts”.

“Today they want to tell us they are the best thinkers and they can interpret the freedom charter better than Nelson Mandela.”

He said the struggle for today’s youth was for “economic emancipation”, to “take command of the economy from the hands of white males”.

“We must say here today, following the clip we played, in our lifetime we demand economic freedom.”

He again attacked former president FW de Klerk.

“We must never compare De Klerk to Nelson Mandela. De Klerk must be compared with [IFP leader] Mangosuthu Buthelezi, they served the same master.”

He extended his venom to Buthelezi and related how the IFP was funded by security forces. While the party leader was “forgiven”, his deeds were “not forgotten”.

Joining Malema on stage was ANC NEC member Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, who remarked that Malema was “clever” to use archival information to back up his bid to nationalise mines.

“You are very clever, my grandson Julius… you went to collect archival matter on nationalisation of the mines. I wonder where you got it.”

Madikizela-Mandela responded to newspaper reports on her absence at Victor Verster prison in Cape Town last week to commemorate her ex-husband’s release.

“My family and I were not invited.”

Earlier, Malema described Madikizela-Mandela as “populist”, praising her contribution to the struggle at length.

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The Speaker of the National Assembly on Wednesday suspended Democratic Alliance MP Dianne Kohler-Barnard for swearing in Parliament during a walkout of the DA and Cope.

Speaker Max Sisulu said he had decided to invoke the provisions of Rule 52 of the Rules of the National Assembly and suspended Kohler-Barnard for the maximum of five parliamentary working days allowed in terms of the rules.

Sisulu said: “Since the DA had left the Chamber at that stage, there was no opportunity for the chair to express itself on the matter.”

“Ms Kohler-Barnard has since admitted to the media and to her party that she did indeed use the distasteful phrase.”

Kohler-Barnard used the word “fuck” during the walkout of the DA and Cope in support of Cope MP Mluleki George, after he was sent out of the National Assembly after refusing to withdraw his statement that the government was steering the country into lawlessness.

Earlier on Wednesday she was suspended for five days by her own party’s Chief Whip, Ian Davidson. This, shortly after ANC Chief Whip Mathole Motshekga called on the DA and Parliament to take action against Kohler-Barnard.

Sisulu said Kohler-Barnard’s behaviour had been unparliamentary, unbecoming and offensive in the extreme.

Her suspension came into effect immediately.

taken from News24

The Western Cape is to pass a law banning politicians from using blue-light convoys in the province, Premier Helen Zille announced on Friday.

In her state of the province address, she said this would apply to politicians from “any sphere of government”.

The only exception would be a genuine emergency.

“And being late for a meeting does not constitute an emergency,” she said.

Zille’s announcement follows outrage at the arrest this week of a University of Cape Town student who allegedly made an obscene gesture at President Jacob Zuma’s convoy as it passed him.

Scores of students on Thursday demonstrated in solidarity with the arrested Chumani Maxwele, all flashing the same raised middle finger.

Zille said law enforcement agencies were supposed to protect innocent citizens against power abuse.

Unfortunately, in South Africa there were cases where the police themselves were accessories to this abuse, she said.

When her provincial executive assumed office nine months ago, one of the first things it did was to instruct the police’s VIP protection services to stop using blue lights and sirens on ministerial vehicles unless in exceptional circumstances.

“We did this because we don’t believe that politicians should have special rights and privileges that other citizens don’t have,” she said.

“We share the public’s disgust at being forced off the road by blue light bullies escorting self-important politicians.”

Maxwele’s arrest and interrogation by the president’s protection officers was an example of such abuse.

South Africa was a constitutional democracy, not a police state, she said.

“We will therefore introduce legislation… to prevent any politician from any sphere of government using blue-light convoys and sirens in the Western Cape, unless a genuine emergency arises.”

This would be done in terms of the provincial government’s constitutional competencies for road traffic regulation.

Zille also announced planned legislation to prohibit employees of the province conducting business with it, except in strictly defined and transparent circumstances.

Tender rigging and conflicts of interest were one of the primary sources of corruption in all provinces, she said.

taken from News24

State of the Nation address By His Excellency JG Zuma, President of the Republic of South Africa, at the Joint Sitting Of Parliament, Cape Town.

11 February 2010

Jacob Zuma

Honourable Speaker; Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces; Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Deputy Chairperson of the NCOP; Deputy President of the Republic, Honourable Kgalema Motlanthe; Honourable Chief Justice of the Republic of South Africa and all esteemed members of the Judiciary; Isithwalandwe President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela; Former President FW de Klerk; Our father, Former President Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia; Former Deputy Presidents; Distinguished Premiers and Speakers of our Provinces;
Chairperson of SALGA and all local government leadership; Chairperson of the National House of Traditional Leaders;
Heads of Chapter 9 Institutions; The Governor of the Reserve Bank; Special international Guests especially the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Mr Jean Ping; Former political prisoners and veterans; Members of the diplomatic corps; South African and foreign media;
Fellow South Africans,

Dumelang, molweni, goeie naand, good evening, sanibonani nonke emakhaya!

Siyavuya ukuba nani ngobubusuku bubaluleke kangaka.

I stand before you this evening, 20 years since President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela walked out of prison.

We have chosen this as the day to call this Joint Sitting of Parliament to deliver the State of the Nation Address, to celebrate a watershed moment that changed our country.

The release of Madiba was brought about by the resolute struggles of the South African people.

You will recall that the masses of this country, in their different formations, responded with determination to the call to make the country ungovernable and apartheid unworkable.

We are celebrating this day with former political prisoners who we have specially invited to join us.
We welcome in particular those who have travelled from abroad to be here, Helene Pastoors, Michael Dingake from Botswana, Mr Andimba Toivo ya Toivo of SWAPO in Namibia.

We are pleased to be joined by members of the legal team in the Rivonia Treason trial – Lord Joel Joffe, who is now based in London and Judge Arthur Chaskalson.

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In February 1990, ANC activist Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela walked out of the gates of Victor Verster prison a free man after being jailed for 27 years by the apartheid regime.

Nelson Mandela remembers 20 years of freedom.

There to meet him were members of the National Reception Committee, who helped Mandela as he took the first steps to his election four years later as SA’s first democratically elected president.

On Thursday this week, former members of the committee and family members gathered in Johannesburg to reminisce about that day, 20 years ago.

The gathering, arranged by his ex-wife Winnie Madikizela-Mandela and his daughter Zindzi, took place around a dining-table in a marquee on the grounds of Mandela’s Houghton home.

Father Smangaliso Mkhatshwa, a Catholic priest detained and tortured during the apartheid years, said the gathering had brought together the people who served on the reception committee.

Unbelievable

“I am a priest and I was responsible for Nelson’s security that day,” he laughed.

“We are meeting to reminisce. When you look back, the way this country has become normal is unbelievable. There were prophets of doom, but life has gone on and we have done exceptionally well, even though there is still lots to do.”

“He looks fine, jolly as ever. Age has taken its toll but he has not lost his sense of humour,” Mkhatshwa, who went on to become mayor of Pretoria, said when asked how Mandela was.

Among those attending the celebration were Mandela’s children and grandchildren, ANC comrades, former activists, and members of government past and present.

They included Cyril Ramaphosa, Dali Mpofu, Bulelani Ngcuka, Saki Macozoma, Valli Moosa, Trevor Manuel, Sydney Mufamadi, Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Ahmed Kathrada, Frank Chikane, Murphy Morobe and Roseberry Sonto.

Also present were Sister Bernard Ncube, Hilda Ndude, Farieda Omar, photographer Alf Kumalo, and ex-prison warder Christo Brand, who befriended Mandela during his years of incarceration under the apartheid regime.

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Johannesburg – The day after Mickey Arthur’s resignation as national coach, South Africa’s selection panel has also been sacked by the board.

Mike Procter

Mike Procter, the now former convenor of selectors, confirmed the development to a Talk Radio 702 in Johannesburg.

Procter told the station that Cricket South Africa had fired the entire selection panel, which included Craig Matthews, Winky Ximiya and Mustapha Khan, and an interim one would be appointed to serve until February 19.

“It came as a huge shock to us all,” Procter said. He added that only CSA would be able to confirm if the developments were linked to the transformation issue.

“I had a phone call early on Tuesday morning, Gerald Majola informing me that this selection panel would not be required in future,” Procter told eNews.

“Everyone was told that this was going to be a talk after the series. We were just going to make some presentations. They weren’t going to come after anyone. It wasn’t going to be a witch hunt.

“I think we had too short a time in the business, as selectors we always gave our own thoughts, we never ended up voting on issues, we talked around issues, we enjoyed each others company and I think we were doing pretty well. The time we had was too short but we did introduce some new players.”

Matthews, a member of the selection panel, said he understood that Majola would head the interim panel until a new one was put in place. “The way I understand it, there will be an interim selection panel and Gerald will be the convenor of selectors until a new panel has been picked,” he told the Cricinfo website. “We weren’t given any reason for the decision (sacking). All that was said was that the board felt the selection process was flawed and that they want to restructure it.

“It might be a transformation issue, but they didn’t give us any reasons, all they said was that the process needs to be reworked. I have been part of South African cricket for many years, nothing really surprises me anymore.”

The sacked panel took over as selectors in December 2008, just before the historic series victory in Australia which put South Africa on top of both the Test and the ODI rankings. Results went downhill after that, losing the return Test series against Australia and only managing to draw the home series against England which ended earlier this month. Between those two assignments were the loss in the World Twenty20 semi-finals and the embarrassingly early exit in the ICC Champions Trophy they hosted. The panel’s tenure was supposed to be till the 2011 World Cup, the same as Arthur’s.

Arthur will speak to the media along with CSA CEO Gerald Majola at 11:00 this morning in East London, live on the SuperSport Blitz channel.

taken from Sport24

Johannesburg – South Africa’s Olympic governing body, SASCOC, has suspended Athletics SA president Leonard Chuene, the Board of ASA and its members “with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation and further action” over their handling of the Caster Semenya saga.

Furthermore, SASCOC is considering “taking appropriate action against the IAAF for its disregard of Semenya’s rights to privacy,” following speculation over her gender.

Semenya won the women’s 800m title at the World Championships in Berlin in August, but reports have said that she underwent a gender test and Chuene later admitted to lying about the results.

At a Special Board meeting of SASCOC called for the purpose of considering the report of the SASCOC Legal and Arbitration Commission into the handling of Semenya, the Board resolved unanimously as follows:

To accept the recommendations made by the SASCOC Legal and Arbitration Commission as listed below.

• 1. Leonard Chuene should be suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation and further action.
• 2. Kakata Maponyane, Molatelo Malehopo and Phiwe Mlangeni should be suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation and further action.
• 3. The Board of ASA and its Members should be suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation and further action.
• 4. Humile Bogatsu should be suspended with immediate effect pending the outcome of a disciplinary investigation and further action.
• 5. SASCOC should consider taking appropriate action against IAAF for its disregard of Semenya’s rights to privacy.

SASCOC should ensure that the suspension in respect of Malehope, Mlangeni and Bogatsu conform to current Labour Law Practices and that any

Leonard Chuene

contemplated suspension is with full pay and appropriate benefits due to their status as employees of ASA.

It is being further recommended that:

A decision is taken to appoint SASCOC Board Member Ray Mali as the administrator of Athletics South Africa.

That the Administrator Ray Mali will convene an urgent meeting of the Council of ASA (excluding the suspended individuals) and elect an Interim Board of ASA pending the outcome of the disciplinary enquiry.

That the suspended individuals will appear before a disciplinary enquiry to answer charges of bringing ASA, the sport of athletics, SASCOC and sport in general into disrepute.

taken from News24

Polokwane – The driver of the car in which Julius Malema was stopped in Limpopo recently, reportedly placed a blue light on the car’s roof after traffic officers signalled to him to pull over. They were doing 107km/h in a 60km/h zone.

A reliable source told Beeld that the ANC Youth League president and his driver were in a silver Range Rover on October 14. Malema went to his home town, Seshego, on that day to hand over a house to needy people.

At about 10:00 he and his driver were on their way back from Seshego to Polokwane when a team of nine traffic officers signalled them to pull off the road.

The driver reportedly stopped the car in the middle of the road, flashed the lights and then placed a blue light on the roof.

City Press reported on Sunday that Malema phoned Limpopo’s Roads and Transport MEC, Pinky Kekana, among others, after being pulled over.

Malema apparently said to the traffic officers:  “Who do you think you are? Don’t you know that I am Julius, president of the ANCYL?”

One of the traffic officers, who wanted to remain anonymous for fear of victimisation, said on Wednesday, “The incident definitely took place.”

This after a denial by Ntau Letebele, head of the Limpopo roads and transport department, that it happened.

“It never happened, so why would one want to institute a disciplinary investigation?” he asked Beeld on Monday. (continue reading…)

Johannesburg – AfriForum will send a petition to Arts and Culture Minister Lulu Xingwana to stop the changing of the names of 42 towns, the organisation said on Monday.

Spokesperson Willie Spies said the organisation supported a last effort to stop the changes of the names of towns, mostly from Mpumalanga, after Xingwana published an announcement that she had approved the changes in the Government Gazette of October 16.

Included in the list are towns like Nelspruit, changed to Mbombela, and Waterval Boven, changed to Emgwenya.

The announcement led to an outcry from mostly opposition parties and civil movements like the Afrikanerbond, who said the changes had been done without any consultation.

The Afrikanerbond sent a letter to President Jacob Zuma, asking him to interfere to stop the changes. “The changing of the name of the town from Machadodorp to eMakhazeni has been steamrollered through, despite the fact that the majority of the residents who attended the public consultation meetings unambiguously declared themselves to be against the name change,” said Spies. (continue reading…)

Opposition political parties on Sunday reacted with anger at the news that Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa has racked up another five-star hotel bill, this time of R570 000 in Durban.

The Sunday Independent reported that between December 19 and April 25, Mthethwa was intermittently booked into the luxurious Hilton Hotel along with members of his VIP Protection Unit at a cost of R578 499.

The Hilton bill was double what taxpayers coughed up for Mthethwa’s 17-day stay in Cape Town’s five-star Table Bay Hotel earlier this year. Mthethwa stayed at the hotel at a cost of R235 000 while his home was being renovated after flood damage.

The DA said the police department’s long list of luxury indulgences did not only contradict President Jacob Zuma’s calls for austerity and prudence, but flew in the face of common sense and commitment to put the public before personal gratification.

“If one adds up the hotel extravagance to the cars bought by Mthethwa and his deputy, Fikile Mbalula, it goes up to over R3.7m of public money being spent on person opulence,” shadow minister of police Dianne Kohler Barnard said in a statement.

She asked how Mthethwa would justify his behaviour while police officers who often put their lives at risk earned next to nothing each month.

The Independent Democrats expressed its “disgust”.

“In light of the fact that this is the second such revelation about Mthethwa in less than two weeks, words cannot describe how disgusted the ID is,” the party’s spokesperson for police Haniff Hoosen said in a statement.

The problem was that ministers were determining their own benefits, he said.

“The Cabinet’s powers to approve the handbook must be taken away. Perks, privileges and allowances for ministers should be determined by a similar process to the Moseneke Commission, which was tasked with examining remuneration for public office bearers.”

ANC leaders had lost touch with the people who voted them into their positions.

According to the Sunday Independent’s copy of the Hilton bill, Mthethwa spent Christmas and New Year at the hotel. During an uninterrupted 17-day stay from December 19, he was not accompanied by any guards and the bill came to just over R86 000.

On the night before Valentine’s Day, Mthethwa was booked into the same hotel, this time with four guards, at a cost of R38 516. From April 19 to 25, he stayed at the hotel with two guards. The bill amounted to R89 000.

His spokesperson, Zweli Mnisi, did not comment on the figure, saying only that Mthethwa was in KwaZulu-Natal around December on “official duties”, partaking in roadshows aimed at reducing festive season crime. His April stay was due to the national elections.

“The province was identified as a potential hot spot. All these were official programmes aimed at engaging local stakeholders in the fight against crime, including consultation with local authorities as part of preparation for the elections,” he said in a statement.

taken from News24