Malema tender probe set for completion within the month

A target date of June 28 has been set for completion of the public protector’s probe into tenders awarded to companies allegedly connected to ANC Youth League president Julius Malema, a spokesperson said on Monday.

“The investigation relates to tenders that were allegedly awarded by 10 municipalities and is therefore taking some time to finalise,” said Kgalalelo Masibi, spokesperson for Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.

Masibi said the date might “shift” because of competing demands on the investigating team’s time, the volume of evidence and the availability of witnesses for interviews.

Madonsela’s office announced in March that it intended investigating tenders awarded to the company SGL Engineering Projects, on whose board Malema apparently served as a director.

These tenders included a R2,1-million sewerage upgrade; a R39,3-million sewerage reticulation project; a R27,9-million street paving and drainage contract; a R28-million tender for several municipal infrastructure projects; and a R2-billion roads tender.

At the time, Masibi said the decision to investigate followed complaints by AfriForum Youth and the Congress of the People. The probe would focus on whether there was improper conduct in the award or management of the contracts.

Madonsela earlier said her office had received a number of complaints about alleged tender irregularities in various municipalities across Limpopo.

She said she had assembled a team to investigate and had spoken to auditor general Terence Nombembe about the possibility of conducting a joint investigation.

Malema has denied receiving any lucrative tenders including any through SGL Engineering Projects.