Limpopo - The charges of fraud and corruption against axed ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema are politically motivated, the Limpopo ANC said on Tuesday.
“The PEC (provincial executive committee) unanimously agreed that these state actions against the young man are not backed by a genuine case to fight against corruption and fraud, as has been broadly alleged,” spokesman Makondelele Mathivha said in a statement.
“(It is backed) by a repressive political intent to erode hard-won rights of citizens to gather, express themselves, associate with other persons or groupings, affiliate to organisations of their own choosing; generally, the right to freedom of association, speech and so on.”
Mathivha said the PEC understood that the allegations against Malema would have an indirect impact on “sections” of provincial government.
“A decision was thus taken that PEC members will attend the court proceedings tomorrow (Wednesday),” he said.
“The PEC is adamant that even if the individual involved was not comrade Julius Malema, members of the PEC would still have gone to court to observe the unfolding proceedings for themselves.”
The PEC was calling on government to uphold citizens' rights to a fair trial ahead of Malema's court appearance.
Malema was due to appear in the Polokwane District Court on Wednesday morning.
He faces a charge of fraud and money-laundering relating to an On-Point Engineering tender.
Malema's Ratanang Family Trust was one of two shareholders in On-Point.
According to a weekend report Public Protector Thuli Madonsela found that Malema made millions from the R52 million tender.
Though Madonsela could not find any evidence that he interfered in the tender process, she found that he benefited “improperly” from the contract.
Her investigation found that On-Point acted corruptly by signing back-to-back agreements with subcontractors, the newspaper reported.
Madonsela recommended that the tender be immediately cancelled, that the National Prosecuting Authority and the Asset Forfeiture Unit consider criminal action, and that the Master of the High Court investigate the flow of money into Malema's trust.
Four of Malema's business associates appeared in the Polokwane Magistrate's Court on Tuesday.
They were granted bail of R40 000 each. - Sapa