A probe into tenders awarded to companies said to involve ANC Youth League president Julius Malema is expected to be completed by the Office of the Public Protector Thuli Madonsela by the end of June.
The investigation relates to tenders that were allegedly awarded by 10 municipalities.
Spokesperson Kgalalelo Masibi said on Monday that Madonsela had “promised” an “interim” report would be released by June 30.
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 focused on whether there was improper conduct in the awarding or management of the contracts.
Malema had denied receiving any lucrative tenders including any through SGL Engineering Projects.
The fracas gave rise to the term “tenderpreneurs”.
‘I live on handouts’
In an interview with the Mail & Guardian in March this year, Malema was asked if he thought it was fair to ask how he had accumulated his wealth at such a young age?
“It’s very fair. But write facts. What the media did [showed] it was never interested in the facts. I am not rich. I do not have millions as reported. All my houses have got bonds. They are financed by banks. I’ve never got any lucrative tender from anybody, including the company called SGL,” said Malema.
“I live on handouts most of the time. If I don’t have food to eat, I can call Cassel Mathale [premier of Limpopo] and say: “Chief, can you help me? I’ve got nothing here.” I can call Thaba Mufamadi, I can call Pule Mabe [ANCYL treasurer general] or Mbalula. They all do the same with me. That’s how we have come to relate to each other.
“That’s why at times you can’t even see our poverty because we cover each other’s back. As comrades, we have always supported each other like that.”
In the same interview, reporters then asked Malema if he had used his influential position to lobby for business for people who are close to you.
Malema replied: “You must go and refer to the years they refer to and look at who was in power at that time. Sello Moloto [former Limpopo premier] was running that government there and he did not want me at all. Cassel just came in now and I’ve never got anything under his regime.
“What I am asking for is that, if there is anybody with concrete evidence that I have manipulated tender processes, that person must report me to the police … And I’ve also asked that the leadership of the state, be it treasury or police, if they go to my account and find millions, they must take those millions and put them into institutions that can help children of the poor.
“I’ve got no millions. If there is anything I must sign with whomever to go and search my account … and if that person discovers millions, he must take those millions.” – Sapa and staff reporter