Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News – 30-11-2018

(Twitter: @FaizelPatel143)

An amaBhungane investigative journalist has told Radio Islam a “Julius Malema linked slush fund” has a string of unlikely coincidences which raises a number of questions about how Malema and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) benefited from a 1 billion Rand fleet deal.

The amaBhungane investigation has lift the lid of links between the EFF, the City of Joburg and Afrirent who controversially won a billion-rand fleet contract.

According to the amaBhungane investigation, financial records show that as the rain was about to fall for Afrirent, it transferred R500 000 in two tranches to Mahuna, a company fronted by Julius Malema’s cousin Matsobane John Phaleng, but used as a “slush fund” for the EFF and it’s leader.

The Daily Maverick reported that it has long been rumoured that the EFF was given patronage over lucrative City of Johannesburg tenders as a quid pro quo for working with Herman Mashaba’s Democratic Alliance (DA)-led administration.

amaBhungane investigative journalist Micah Reddy says there’s long been rumours that the DA had essentially ceded parts of the city to its coalition partners and the EFF.

Reddy says while the EFF has denied any wrong doing, there are a number of questionable activities that was at the centre of the so called “Malema slush fund”.

“One has to take a step back and look at all these things together and situate things in context and you begin to see a pattern emerging and a timeline that raises a lot of questions. It certainly looks like a very unlikely string of coincidences.”

The EFF is yet to respond to the allegations, except for Malema retweeting comments that the party was under attack by the media.