Bring it on, says Juju

Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema, who has several cases pending before the courts, said during a wide-ranging interview last week he had been painted as the “most corrupt person” who even brought down an entire province.

This was in reference to his links to On-Point Engineering’s multimillion-rand tenders and the collapse of the Limpopo government’s coffers, which saw numerous departments being placed under administration in 2011.

“With all the ... accusations you have put against me, what makes it difficult for them to take me to court and trial me with all the evidence they have and send me to prison?” he asked.

Malema, who is expected to be re-elected when the party holds its second elective conference this week, said he had no means of stopping his conviction or delaying his prosecution if he really was guilty of any wrongdoing.

“Why am I? If I am not being targeted, if my name is not being destroyed for purposes of settling political differences.”

He said the questions being posed about On-Point Engineering were raised during a tax investigation in 2012-13.

“The same questionnaire we were given during [SA Revenue Service] hearings … [journalist Piet Rampedi] was in possession and published those stories. I have never disowned On-Point,” said Malema.

He explained the links between the engineering firm, his Ratanang family trust and former business partner Lesiba Gwangwa’s family trust, both of which owned Qualis, On-Point and SGL – subsidiaries of a holding company, which Ratanang also had shares in, called Guilder Investments.

The Ratanang and Gwangwa trusts, which had a 50-50 share in the investment firm, benefitted from the monies through Guilder when they shared profits with its stakeholders.

“My Sars bill was based, among others, on those types of expenses. I have taken responsibility, have settled my matters with Sars...”

Asked why it seemed he never wanted to take responsibility for his actions, but instead insisted he was a political target, he said: “[I have] never asked for the dropping of charges, never submitted anything to the [National Prosecuting Authority] to ask for the dropping of charges, said, ‘separate me, I have been coming here and it pains me that every time you block roads, the public gets inconvenienced and the state wastes money. Try me alone. I am always here’ – they said no. I have taken responsibility.”