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The Hawks circle over Malema
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The Hawks have confirmed that they have launched a wide-scale investigation into several businesses owned by ANC Youth League (ANCYL) leader Julius Malema, including his controversial Ratanang family trust.

21 August 2011 | MUSA MOHAMED

JOHANNESBURG - The Hawks have confirmed that they have launched a wide-scale investigation into several businesses owned by ANC Youth League (ANCYL) leader Julius Malema, including his controversial Ratanang family trust.

Malema faces fraud and corruption charges filed against him last month with the Pretoria police by civil rights body AfriForum.

It is alleged that Malema uses his Ratanang Trust to channel cash flowing from favours resulting from the awarding of government tenders to businessmen with whom he reportedly has close relations.

Hawks spokesman McIntosh Polela told The Citizen yesterday that the probe of Malema was well under way. He said the Hawks had been pressed by several civil society bodies demanding to know whether there had been any progress in probing Malema?s lavish lifestyle and his alleged business dealings with provincial governments.

?We are already doing an investi-gation, which we started two weeks ago. We are looking into the charges of fraud and corruption, including the Ratanang Trust and other entities (companies),? Polela said.

He declined to divulge details of the ?other entities being probed? but confirmed that the Hawks had broadened their investigation into several companies owned by Malema. This comes after Public Protector Thuli Madonsela?s decision last Thursday to investigate On-Point Engineering, a company to whom Malema has been linked.

It is claimed that the company received a multimillion-rand tender from the Limpopo Roads and Transport Department, with huge benefits flowing to its members, including Malema.

Malema also faces political charges as the ANC presses ahead with disciplinary action against him and his spokesman, Floyd Shivambu, for bringing the party into disrepute and sowing division among its members. Both are expected to appear before the ANC?s national disciplinary committee at the end of the month.

The charges relate to the ANCYL?s comments on seeking to topple the government of Botswana.

This was followed by a strong rebuke by the ANC leadership, who now appear determined to take action against Malema.

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