Star2.jpg Mixed messages Editorial, The Star, Johannesburg, 6 August 2015 Julius Malema is a significant and established force in South African life. You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who didn't have a firm opinion on him, and that was certainly the case this week when Polokwane High Court Judge George Mothle struck the corruption and fraud case against Malema and his co-accused off the roll. Their case related to activities of the On-Point Engineering company. Malema, who had gained kudos the day before Judge Mothle's verdict by saying his supporters within the EFF should go back to work and the MPs to Parliament instead of staying at court to watch matters play out, repeated his claim that the charges had been politically motivated. References were made to President Jacob Zuina and others occupying high office, in this regard. Yet, what was not clearly mentioned amid the excitement around the ruling was that Malema could still face the reinstatement of certain charges. The reason Judge Mothle made his decision was that one of Malema's co-accused was in hospital, and the judge would no longer tolerate further delays in the trial. That isn't quite the same thing as a case being struck off the roll for lack of evidence, or conspiracy. Judge MothIe's decision might therefore be regarded as technical. So there, is a chance that the jubilation from Malema and his supporters this week was premature, particularly if there is no basis to claims of conspiracy against him. We mustn't forget that Public Protector Thuli Madonsela made certain findings in her 2011 report into On-Point, in which she pointed to fraudulent tender processes in part linked to Malema. The suggestion there was of improper benifits. Malema's Ratanang Trust and money connected to the contracts were probed. Malema has himself said that when he was president of the ANC Youth League, he was often unaware of accounting activities going on around him. Perhaps that is so. However, it is the Malema the successful graduate, Malema the fiery, aIluring speaker and Malema the potential leader which the public surely prefers. He would himself likely agree that a fraud has no place in our society, until redeemed. Transcribed -- -- 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] . --- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "YCLSA Discussion Forum" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
