 Malema eyes business world Waldimar Pelser, Beeld, News24, Johannesburg, 25 February 2010 Johannesburg - Julius Malema says he is going to start chasing the really big money in earnest. The ANC youth league leader proudly announced his official entry to the business world on Wednesday, a day after President Jacob Zuma said he is not interested in where and how Malema makes his money. "I'm going to start doing business now. I must lead the youth in the business world," Malema said in an interview with Vuyo Mbuli on the SABC programme Morning Live. Beeld previously reported that Malema - who insists he earns an ordinary salary and "has never seen a million rand" - paid R1m in cash for a house in Polokwane and last year paid a deposit of over R2m for another house in Sandton. He later took out a bond of R850 000 on the first house. The youth league leader can't account for either of these amounts. Company directorships At a news conference on Tuesday Malema went on a tirade about the media's interest in his financial affairs. He said he gave up all his company directorships when the youth league elected him as leader in 2008, despite the fact that the Companies and Intellectual Properties Registration Office (Cipro) records show the contrary. These directorships included SGL Engineering Projects which, according to reports, was awarded tenders of more than R140m by municipalities in Limpopo. Malema is listed as one of two active directors. On Tuesday he said: "I have unlimited access to Zuma. I'm friends with all the premiers. I'm close to all the ministers." With the backing of this network, he is openly charging into the business world. His biggest complaint: As soon as a young black person does business, people think they are corrupt. Not corrupt "I'm not corrupt. Even if I was, I don't have the power to say who should be awarded tenders. I don't hold a public office and I won't within the next 15 years. But this is an example of brilliant black diamonds being attacked. I must restore the faith of South Africa's youth by entering the business world." The tax man is welcome to look into his finances, but that is a private matter. "What I discuss with Sars [South African Revenue Service] is between me and Sars," Malema said. - Beeld -- You are subscribed. This footer can help you. Please POST your comments to [email protected] or reply to this message. You can visit the group WEB SITE at http://groups.google.com/group/yclsa-eom-forum for different delivery options, pages, files and membership. To UNSUBSCRIBE, please email [email protected] . You don't have to put anything in the "Subject:" field. You don't have to put anything in the message part. All you have to do is to send an e-mail to this address (repeat): [email protected] . |
