Sport Minister Fikile Mbalula has denied footing expelled ANC Youth League leader Julius Malema's London bill.
“These reports have no content or basis,” Mbalula told reporters in Johannesburg on Friday. “They are malicious, and just rumour mongering.”
Mbalula said he was in London on an official visit as the minister of sport and to lead team South Africa at the Olympics.
“It was no secret what we were doing in London. I did everything in London that I was supposed to do,” he said.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the government was paying for Malema's trip through his association with Mbalula.
Mbalula said: “I took an oath (as minister) I'm not corrupt. Unlike Jackie Selebi these hands are clean. I did not pay for Julius.”
Mbalula did not deny that he saw Malema while he was in London.
“I meet Julius every day here in South Africa, why should London be an exception?”
Just because Malema was no longer an ANC member there was no reason to not have a personal relationship with him, Mbalula said. - Sapa